Analysis of various risk factors for the development of culture positive surgical site infection following orthopedic surgery

Introduction: Surgical site infection following orthopedic surgeries is a dreaded complication. So prior knowledge, its identification and stratification of factors of surgical site infection is vital in application of measures to avoid surgical site infection. Materials and Methods: This study was done in JIPMER Pondicherry between January 2013 and August 2014. We aimed at identifying the factors associated with a higher risk for the development of culture positive SSI. We studied 249 patients, who had undergone orthopedic surgical procedure and collected their data according to our proforma and as per our protocol .Out of 29 patients with surgical site infection only 10 patient showed growth of infective organism. At the end of the study various parameters were compared among patients (patients with culture positive SSI vs others). Results: It was found that the duration of closed suction drain and use of implants are risk factors for the development of culture positive surgical infection. Conclusion: The present study shows that, out of various factors evaluated use of implant, increased duration of closed suction drain are important risk factors for the development of culture positive surgical site infection.