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Postoperative wound infection rates in dermatologic surgery
1Department of Dermatology, Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Summary
Dermatologic surgery has a low wound infection rate of 2.29%. Procedures on the ear or large defects increase infection risk, but outpatient dermatologic surgery remains safe.
Area of Science:
- Dermatologic Surgery
- Surgical Infections
Background:
- Wound infection risk in dermatologic surgery is influenced by procedure-related factors.
- Despite potential risks, infection rates in dermatologic surgery are generally considered low.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine wound infection rates in Mohs and excisional surgery.
- To investigate factors influencing surgical wound infection rates, including lesion type, location, defect size, Mohs stages, and reconstruction type.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 530 Mohs procedures and 517 excisional surgeries.
- Statistical evaluation of infection rates in relation to various surgical and patient factors.
Main Results:
- Combined wound infection rate was 2.29%, consistent with "clean" surgical procedures.
- Higher infection rates were observed for Mohs procedures on the ear and for large postoperative defects.
Conclusions:
- Dermatologic surgery is safe in outpatient settings with minimal infection risk.
- Anatomic site (e.g., ear) and postoperative defect size are key predictors of wound infection risk.