Epidemiology and risk factors for surgical site infections following thoracic surgery

Abstract

Background: Risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) are well studied after cardiac surgery but there is few data about epidemiology of these infections after non cardiac thoracic surgery. We aimed to investigate epidemiology, risk factors and outcome of postoperative SSIs following thoracic surgery. Methods: All of the patients who undergone thoracic surgical procedure, between 2004 and 2012 were surveyed prospectively for the presence of SSI. Risk factors for SSIs after open thoracic surgery were analysed with a case-control study: 80 patients with SSIs were compared with 96 patients who were operated during the study period but did not develop SSI. Results: A total of 100 surgical site infections diagnosed in 4572 patients (2.18%). Open surgery was associated with SSIs more frequently than thoracoscopic surgery (P= 3, preoperative white blood cell (WBC) count and the number of blood products used perioperatively were found to be independent risk factors for SSIs. Mortality rate and total length of hospital stay were significantly higher in patients with SSIs. Conclusion: Higher WBC count before surgery could indicate higher risk of SSI after thoracic surgery. Decreasing blood and blood product use perioperatively could lower the rate of SSIs.