Abstract: Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is defined as microbial contamination of the surgical wound within 30 days of an operation or which occurs within 1 year following surgery if an implant is placed in a patient. The rate of surgical site infections varies from 1.4 to 22.7%. SSI becomes financial burden to patient as well as grossly reduces his quality of life.
Method: This observational and follow up study was conducted on 200 patients over a period of one year in the Department of Orthopaedics, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Dehradun, Uttarakhand. All clean orthopaedic cases presented to OPD or Emergency who underwent implant surgery was included in the study.
Results: Out of 200 patients, 17 (8.5%) patients developed early surgical site infection. Most infections were found in age group between 41 to 60 years. Important risk factors for SSI were longer pre-op hospital stay, open surgeries, long duration surgeries, and use of drains, diabetes, anaemia and smoking. Staphylococcus was most common bacteria associated with SSI. Gram negative bacteria were also significant indicating nosocomial infection.
Conclusion: Incidence of SSI after implant surgery is fairly high even in clean orthopaedic cases. Identification of risk factors and appropriate measures are needed to control it.
