Scalpels Shadow: Unveiling the Burden of Surgical Site Infection in a Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are the third most commonly reported nosocomial infection, which has an adverse impact on the hospital as well as on the patient. Approximately 0.5 to 3 of patients undergoing surgery will experience infection at or adjacent to the surgical incision site. Compared with patients undergoing surgery who do not have a surgical site infection, those with a surgical site infection are hospitalized approximately 7 to 11 days longer 1. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of SSIs, identify associated risk factors, characterize the microbial etiology, and assess antimicrobial resistance patterns in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted over one year (January-December 2023) at a tertiary care centre, South India. A total of 87 post-operative patients with clinically suspected SSIs were enrolled. Wound swabs and pus samples were collected and cultured. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method by CLSI guidelines. Results: Among the 87 patients, positive culture growth was obtained in 62.07 of cases. The highest incidence of SSIs was noted in the 41-50 year age group (32.6). SSIs were more common in males (68.6) than in females. The majority of infections were associated with procedures from general Surgery (49). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate (25.6), followed by Escherichia coli (14.0) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.5). Gram-positive isolates were uniformly sensitive to Tetracycline and Linezolid. Gram-negative organisms exhibited multidrug resistance, with the highest sensitivity noted to Carbapenems and Aminoglycosides. The overall SSI rate at the institution was 2.2. Conclusion: This study underscores the continued burden of SSIs, particularly among general surgical patients. Early detection and targeted antimicrobial therapy, guided by local antibiograms, are essential. Rational antibiotic use and stringent infection control measures can significantly reduce SSI rates and improve patient outcomes.