Wound Infection after Laparotomy

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Wound infection is the commonest and most troublesome disorder of
wound healing. Post operative wound infection has been a problem since surgery was
started as a treatment modality. Advancement in medicine has resulted in the prevention
and control of this infection. The introduction of antiseptics is considered to be an
important mile stone on route to safe surgery. The discovery of the antimicrobial agents
also enables us to perform surgery in many conditions that were previously thought to be
impossible in the pre-antibiotic discovery period due to the risk of infection.
Objectives: To measure the rate of post operative wound infection after laparotomy.
Methods: In the period between Dec. 2007 and June 2009 two hundred and forty patients
who had abdominal surgery in the third floor of Al-Kadhimiyah Teaching Hospital reviewed
prospectively include both emergency and elective operations. The wound considered
infected if following one to three weeks postoperatively show signs of infection.
Results: Two hundred and forty patients with abdominal operations were prospectively
studied. There were (42) wounds found to be infected and the infection rate was (17.5%).
The infection rate in contaminated operations was (55.2%) in contrary to clean operations
where the infection rate was (9.2%). the infection rate increased in the extreme of life.
Patients over 50 years old show infection rate of (28.5%) and patients of age group
between 15-30 years old show infection rate of (17.4%). Risk factors like anemia, diabetes
increase infection rate in abdominal surgery. Wound infection increases the hospital stay
from 5 days in non infected cases to 15(8-22) days in cases with major wound infection.
Conclusion: The overall postoperative wound infection rate in this study was 17.5% and it
is acceptable but more attention is required in clean surgical procedures where the rate is
around 9.2%, the universally acceptable rate being less than 2%. This can be achieved by
taking proper measures to improve our operation theatres and wards environments, and
methods of sterilization.