FREQUENCY OF MESH RELATED INFECTIONS AND THEIR RISK FACTORS AFTER HERNIA REPAIR SURGERY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF MULTAN DISTRICT

Background: Hernia repair surgery is among the most frequently performed procedures worldwide, with mesh implantation widely adopted to reduce recurrence rates. Despite its efficacy, mesh-related infections remain a critical concern due to their contribution to postoperative complications, increased healthcare costs, and patient morbidity. Understanding the risk factors and frequency of these infections is essential for enhancing surgical outcomes and guiding preventive strategies in clinical practice. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of mesh-related infections following hernia repair surgery and to identify patient-specific risk factors contributing to their occurrence. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Bakhtawar Amin Medical & Dental College, analyzing clinical records of 140 patients who underwent mesh-based hernia repair surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received prophylactic intravenous cefazolin (2 g for adults >50 kg and 30 mg/kg for pediatric patients), while Group B received 600 mg clindamycin intravenously. Signs of infection were assessed during a four-month follow-up period. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS version 27.0. The Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to test normality, and independent sample t-tests were used for continuous variables. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between risk factors and mesh-related infections. Results: Among 140 patients, 11 (7.85%) developed mesh-related infections. Group A had an infection rate of 7.14% (5/70), while Group B had a rate of 8.57% (6/70). Of the infected patients, 45.5% were diabetic, 27.3% were obese, and 9.1% were habitual smokers. The highest infection prevalence (63.6%) occurred in patients aged 61–70 years. Advanced age, diabetes, obesity, and smoking were positively associated with higher infection rates, though statistical significance was only noted with age (p=0.000). Conclusion: Mesh-related infections following hernia repair surgery are more prevalent among older adults and patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, and smoking habits. These findings highlight the importance of risk stratification and optimization of modifiable factors preoperatively to minimize postoperative complications.