Abstract
BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent the most common adverse event among hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to assess Surgical Site Infection (SSI) incidence in hysterectomies, and the related risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study on patients undergoing abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy was carried out. We assessed the incidence of SSIs according to CDC/NHSN criteria. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were described. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to find independently associated risk factors for SSI. The association between risk factors and SSI incidence was assessed by reference to the adjusted odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: The study covered a total of 1,154 women who underwent abdominal (47.7%) or vaginal (52.3%) hysterectomy. Patients' overall mean age was 54.7 years (SD=13.2). Overall SSI incidence at the end of follow-up was 2.5% (n=29), 1.9% in abdominal hysterectomies and 3.4% in vaginal hysterectomies (p>0.05). We found diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-8.0, p=0.04) and cancer (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.4-9.6, p=0.007) independently associated with SSI incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal hysterectomies accounted for 52.3%. Global incidence of SSI reached 2.5% and was in the lowest rank of the published evidence. Diabetes mellitus and cancer were risk factors related to SSIs.