SUPERFICIAL SURGICAL SITE INFECTION IN EMERGENCY ABDOMINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES. A REANALYSIS OF MICROBIOLOGY AND ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection is regarded as the most common hospital acquired infections
among the surgical patients and carries a significant impact on patient’s morbidity and mortality.
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know about the common pathogens causing surgical site
infection after emergency abdominal surgery and their sensitivity to various antibiotic groups.
METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective cross sectional observational study of 6 months duration,
carried out from July 2012 to December 2012 in the department of general surgery, Hayatabad Medical
Complex, Peshawar. All the patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery during this period
were included in the study. Wounds were classified as clean, clean contaminated, contaminated and
dirty. Superficial Surgical site infection was diagnosed using the criteria set by the Center for Disease
Control and classified according to the Southampton scoring system.
RESULTS: A total of 256 emergency abdominal surgeries were performed. Out of these, 37 patients
developed wound infection, showing that 14.45% of the patients undergoing emergency abdominal
surgery developed wound infection. The culture report suggested E.coli as the most common pathogen
accounting for 19(51.35%) cases of SSI followed by pseudomonas, Staph.aureus and klebsiella
accounting for 8(21.62%) cases, 6(16.21%) cases and 1(2.7%) cases respectively. No growth was
obtained in 2(5.4%) cases and mix growth was obtained in 1(2.7%).
CONCLUSION: Gram negative flora of the gut is responsible for SSI in emergency surgical
procedures and this flora is most sensitive to pipercillin/tazobactam, cefoparazone/sulbactam and
meropenam.
KEY WORDS: Surgical site infection, pathogen, emergency abdominal surgery