ASSESSMENT OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION RATES IN EMERGENCY VERSUS ELECTIVE PROCEDURES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53350/Annalspakmed.1.3.4Keywords:
Surgical site infection, emergency surgery, elective surgery, postoperative complications, tertiary care, infection control, Staphylococcus aureus.Abstract
Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain one of the most frequent postoperative complications, leading to significant morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. The risk of SSIs is strongly influenced by surgical urgency, patient comorbidities, and intraoperative aseptic practices.
Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the incidence, microbial spectrum, and risk factors associated with SSIs in emergency versus elective surgical procedures performed at tertiary care centers in Punjab, Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January 2023 to March 2024 across multiple tertiary care hospitals. A total of 90 patients were enrolled—45 undergoing emergency and 45 undergoing elective surgeries. Patient demographics, comorbidities, wound class, duration of surgery, and antibiotic use were documented. Postoperative wounds were evaluated on days 3, 7, and 30 according to CDC criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The overall SSI rate was 25.6%, with a higher incidence in emergency surgeries (31.1%) compared to elective procedures (20.0%). The majority of infections were superficial incisional (56.5%), followed by deep (26.1%) and organ-space (17.4%) infections. Staphylococcus aureus (43.5%) was the predominant pathogen, followed by E. coli (26.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.4%). Prolonged operative duration, diabetes mellitus, and contaminated wounds were identified as significant risk factors.
Conclusion: Emergency surgeries are associated with significantly higher SSI rates due to limited preoperative optimization and greater contamination risk. Strict adherence to aseptic techniques, timely antibiotic prophylaxis, and postoperative wound surveillance can substantially reduce infection-related morbidity.
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Copyright (c) 2025 MUHAMMAD TALHA, SALEHA NADEEM, AAMINA SEEMAL, MUSTAFA KHALID WAHEED, MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM TAHIR, WALEED AHMAD
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