Determinants Of Surgical Site Infections In Emergency Versus Elective Surgeries In Peshawar

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are infections that appear at or near a surgical incision 30 days after the procedure (90 days if implants are used) (1). SSIs account for over one-fifth of all hospital-acquired infections, ranking among the most common healthcare-associated diseases (1). The global incidence of SSI varies substantially (between 1-30% depending on location and procedure) (1). For example, the World Health Organization estimates 1.2-23.6 SSIs per 100 surgical procedures worldwide (2). A recent meta-analysis discovered a pooled global SSI incidence of approximately 2.5% (3), with rates substantially higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to resource and infection-control restrictions (4). SSI rates vary from <5% in high-income settings to >20% in low- and middle-income nations (4). SSIs dramatically increase patient morbidity and mortality; studies show that SSIs double the mortality risk and lengthen hospital stays by 10-11 days on average, putting significant costs on healthcare systems. Indeed, in the United States, an estimated 157,500 SSIs occur each year, killing over 8,000 people and costing an extra $3.3 billion (1).