Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Surgical wound infection is the second most common cause of nosocomial infection which leads to mortality and extra expenses due to prolonged stay in the hospital. The aim of the present study was to survey surgical wound infection in different wards of Iran University Hospitals and investigate the predisposing and risk factors. Investigation was done on 960 patients who underwent surgery in general surgery, gynecology, orthopedic, ENT and neurosurgery wards. For each patient a questionnaire was filled by residents. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with infection and those without evidence of infection. Data were collected by EPI6 and the results were analyzed by t-test, chi-square and odds ratio tests. The results showed that malnutrition, infection in other body sites, obesity and smoking are among the predisposing factors which carry high probabilities of infection. Other factors had low probability. Technical factors pertinent to the type of operation, the site and the organ, prophylactic antibiotic treatment were also studied. Surgical wound infection rate in this study was estimated as 8.5% which is equal to international reports(5-34%). The importance of each predisposing factor was also emphasized in this study.