Abstract

Introduction:  Surgical wound infections (SWIs) remain a significant risk to patients due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. Moreover, they pose substantial economic challenges for both developing and developed countries. The global impact of these infections is staggering, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that millions of patients worldwide are affected by hospital-acquired infections annually, and many succumb to these infections.

This study aims to analyze the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) by surgical intervention type, identify the most common causes of SSIs, and explore effective management strategies. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the prevention and management of SSIs, thereby enlightening the medical community and empowering them to improve patient outcomes.

Material and Methods: This study, conducted with meticulous attention to detail, focuses on patients who underwent surgery at our clinic from January to October 2024. It will reflect the incidence of SSI by type of surgical intervention, the most frequent causes of these infections, and the methods of treatment.

Results: From January 2023 to June 2024, 788 patients were hospitalized, and 408 were operated on in the Surgery Department of the Clinical Hospital of Tetovo. Three hundred fifty were male, and 438 were female. The patients in the study ranged in age from 21 to 81.

Most of the patients were operated on because of cholecystolithiasis, inguinal, ventral, and umbilical hernias, breast cancer, acute appendicitis, and neoplasia of the colon and ileus. Of the 408 operated patients, 49 (11.76%) developed operative wound infections.

Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the serious global implications of SSIs, including increased morbidity and mortality rates and the strain on healthcare budgets. Therefore, the prevention and reduction of these infections should be a priority for all countries, irrespective of their economic status.

Keywords: surgical site infections (SSIs); incidence; risk factors