Evaluation of risk factors that affect wound infection and mortality in general surgery patients

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors in wound infection and mortality. Background: Wound infection is the most common complication of general surgery patients (2-12%). Mortality rate is an important factor in assessing a clinic's success, but data interpretation should be based on evaluation of certain criteria. Materials and Methods: Between September 2002 and October 2003, the following data collected from 2174 of patients admitted to our clinic was recorded: demographic features, hospitalisation indications, associated diseases, ASA scores, type of operation, hospital stay, intensive care unit stay and rates of wound infection and mortality. Results: Of these patients, 42.5% were men and 57. 5% were women. Median age was 50 (14-92). Two hundred and five (9.4%) patients were hospitalised for observation, medical treatment or investigation and 1969 of them (90.6%) were operated. Wound infection rate was noted as 3.9% (n=77) among all operated patients. All evaluated parameters, except for age (p=0,635) and presence of associated diseases (p=0.631), have been found to be significantly influential in wound infection. For all the related factors, logistic regression analysis was done and only the indication of hospitalisation (p<0.0001) and the lenght of hospital stay (p<0.0001) were found to be statistically significant. Mortality rates were 1.2% and 1.4% respectively for all hospitalised patients and operated patients. All evaluated parameters but gender (p=0.322) and preoperative hospital stay (p=0.103) were found to be statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis was done for all these related parameters and only the intensive care unit stay was determined as a significant factor relating to mortality (p<0.0001). Conclusion: In conclusion, causes of wound infection and mortality are multifactorial, and detailed scoring systems are necessary for prediction of wound infection and mortality rate.