Abstract
PURPOSE: Patients undergoing esophageal tumor surgery (ETS) are at increased risk of postoperative infections (PI), particularly those aged ≥60 years. To improve perioperative safety and outcomes in this population, this study aimed to investigate the bacterial spectrum and identify risk factors associated with PI following ETS. METHODS: A total of 747 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy between January and December 2021 were included in this retrospective analysis. Clinical data, including demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgery-related variables, and laboratory indicators, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for PI were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The overall incidence of PI was 29.6% (221/747). Smoking, prolonged surgical duration, and elevated postoperative blood glucose levels were identified as independent risk factors for postoperative infection. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients undergoing ETS are at considerable risk for PI, particularly those with modifiable risk factors such as smoking and hyperglycemia. Identification of high-risk individuals and implementation of targeted preventive strategies may reduce the incidence of postoperative infections and improve surgical outcomes.