Determinants of Surgical Wound Infection at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Background: This study determined the prevalence and associated risk factors of surgical wound infections (SWI) among adult patients who underwent general surgery at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the UPTH Ethics Committee. Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of 440 adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent surgery between 2018 and 2023. Data on demographics and clinical characteristics were extracted following the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors of SWI. Results: = 0.43). Conclusion: SWI prevalence at UPTH was 7.3%, with younger age identified as an independent risk factor. Improved preoperative screening and prospective surveillance with targeted preventive measures for younger surgical patients may help reduce SWI rates.