Identifying the Risk Factors for Postoperative Surgical Site Infections Following Abdominal Surgery and Improving Their Prevention
Abstract
Surgical site infection (SSI) remains one of the most frequent and consequential complications of abdominal surgery. It prolongs hospitalization, raises cost and mortality, and is closely linked to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. This review synthesizes current evidence to identify the main patient-, procedure- and postoperative-related risk factors for SSI after abdominal operations, and to outline an evidence-based, bundle approach to prevention. Abdominal procedures carry an intrinsically high risk because the incision crosses a microbiologically contaminated visceral tract. Recognizing modifiable factors, such as perioperative hyperglycemia, smoking, obesity, malnutrition, prolonged operations, hypothermia, inadequate antibiotic prophylaxis and unnecessary drains, allows them to be targeted. Implementation of a structured prevention bundle substantially reduces SSI rates, and stopping prophylactic antibiotics after 24 hours directly addresses the antibiotic-resistance challenge that makes SSI a leading contemporary surgical problem.
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References
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