Surgical site infection and associated factors among adult patients admitted in west and east Gojjam zone hospitals, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Introduction: Surgical site infection is a superficial or deep infection that occurs in part of the body including skin and subcutaneous tissue within 30 days after operation. It represents the most common nosocomial infection among surgical patients. It causes increased morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and readmission and treatment costs. Objective: Surgical site infection and associated factors among adult patients in East and West Gojjam hospitals. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 165 patients. Study participants were selected by systematic sampling method. Data were collected by using interviewer administered questionnaire and observation checklists. Logistic regression model were computed to identify the association between outcome and predictor variables. Result: Nearly one- fourth, 42 (25.5%) of the participants were developed surgical site infections. Among these, 38 (90.5%) were in-hospital infections and 4(9.5%) were readmissions. Smoking cigarettes [AOR=6.3(19.3-21)], diabetic comorbidity [AOR=16.7(4.3-65)], extremity surgery [AOR =1.2(3.1-7.4)], and absence of wound care [AOR=21[3-26.1) were factors associated with surgical site infection. Conclusion and recommendations: Prevalence of surgical site infection was relatively high. The most important factors associated with surgical site infection were smoking, diabetic co-morbidity, location of surgery and wound care. Therefore, health care providers should give proper wound care, screen and manage comorbidities like diabetic and educate the impact of cigarette smoking to patients.