ECONOMICAL SAVING DUE TO PROPHYLAXIS IN THE PREVENTION OF SURGICAL-WOUND INFECTION

The objective was to know the principal risk factors that influence in the development of surgical would infection, and the economical savin g achieved with the control of a single variable, that is, right proph ylaxis. A prospective study was carried out at the Traumatology Depart ment of La Pat Hospital. A total of 5260 patients operated during 1990 -1993 are included. Active epidemiological surveillance was used to ch eck patients; logistic regression was used in the multivariant analysi s. The principal risk factors found were: immunodeficiency (OR = 8.67) , incorrect healing (OR = 14.42), reoperated patient (patients who nee ded more than one surgical procedure while they are admitted; reoperat ions) (OR = 3.57), type of surgery (OR = 4.71) and wrong prophylaxis ( OR = 6.36). Making constant all the variables except for prophylaxis, we calculated the percentage of infections prevented by a right prophy laxis, and the cost was calculated starting from the number of extra d ays of infection. The number of infections prevented during the four y ears was 310, saving a total of 194 million pesetas (1.5 million dolla rs), due to right prophylaxis. Cost-benefice ratio = 1/17. We consider of special importance to control this manipulable risk factor, in ord er to avoid the development of infections.