INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR SURGICAL SITE INFECTION FOLLOWING GENERAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common postoperative complications and is associated withincreased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare utilization. Identification of modifiable risk factors isessential for effective SSI prevention. The Objective is to determine the incidence of SSI and evaluate patient-related andsurgical risk factors associated with SSI following general surgical procedures at Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital(GEMS&H), Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational hospital-based study wasconducted over six months, from November 2025 to April 2026. A total of 150 patients undergoing general surgicalprocedures, including elective and emergency surgeries, were included through consecutive sampling. Demographic,clinical, operative, and perioperative variables were recorded prospectively. SSI was assessed during hospitalization and for30 days postoperatively and classified as superficial incisional, deep incisional, or organ/space infection according to CDCcriteria. Associations between potential risk factors and SSI were assessed using appropriate statistical tests, with p<0.05considered statistically significant. Results: Among 150 patients, 63 developed SSI, giving an overall incidence of 42.0%.Superficial incisional SSI was the most common type (58.7%), followed by deep incisional SSI (25.4%) and organ/space SSI(15.9%). Age >50 years and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with SSI. Significant surgical and perioperativerisk factors included emergency surgery, operative duration >2 hours, contaminated/dirty wounds, surgical drain use, anddelayed prophylactic antibiotic administration. Conclusion: SSI represented a substantial postoperative complication in thestudy population. Early identification of high-risk patients, optimization of comorbidities, timely antimicrobial prophylaxis,appropriate surgical practices, and effective postoperative surveillance are essential to reduce SSI and improve surgicaloutcomes