DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjs.2025.v11i02.029

Pages: 250-254

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant post-operative complication, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and higher morbidity. Identifying SSI frequency and associated risk factors is crucial for improving surgical outcomes. This study assessed the prevalence of surgical site infections and contributing factors among surgical patients in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Surgical Oncology & allied, National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 2023 to June 2024. A total of 83 patients who underwent surgical procedures and were followed up at the hospital were included using purposive sampling. Data were collected from medical records, including demographic characteristics, type and duration of surgery, surgical team, prophylactic antibiotic use, and post-operative outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The highest proportion of patients (27.7%) were aged 46–60 years, with a male predominance (80%). Most cases (57%) were admitted through the multidisciplinary tumor board. The overall prevalence of SSIs was 12%. Among SSIs cases, 38.5% underwent elective surgery, while 29.0% had emergency procedures. The majority (59.0%) of surgeries lasted ≥90 minutes, with SSIs occurring in 36.7% of such cases. Gastrointestinal surgeries had the highest SSI incidence (45.5%), followed by orthopedic (42.9%) and hepatobiliary (27.3%) procedures. Patients with shorter hospital stays (<36 hours) had the highest SSI rate (52.0%). Conclusion: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are prevalent among patients in the tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh, with higher rates in elective surgeries, longer procedures, and gastrointestinal surgeries. Preventive measures, improved surgical techniques, and enhanced patient care are essential to reduce SSI risk.