POSTOPERATIVE WOUND-INFECTION RATES IN DERMATOLOGICAL SURGERY

BACKGROUND. Multiple factors related to the nature of the surgical pro cedure can influence the risk of wound infection in dermatologic surge ry. Despite that, wound infection rates in dermatologic surgical proce dures are believed to be low. OBJECTIVE. This study was conducted: 1) to determine wound infection rates in Mohs and excisional surgery; and 2) to investigate if factors such as lesion type, anatomic location, postoperative defect size, number of Mohs stages required to achieve a tumor-free plane, and the type of reconstructive procedure influence the rate of surgical wound infections. RESULTS. Wound infection rate f or 530 Mohs procedures and 517 excisions combined was 2.29%, falling w ithin the predicted range for ''clean'' surgical procedures. In additi on, Mohs procedures performed on the ear as well as large postoperativ e defects were found to have a higher rate of wound infections. CONCLU SION. Dermatologic surgery can be safely performed in an outpatient se tting without a significant risk of infection, certain anatomic sites, such as the ear, as well as size of postoperative defect, are importa nt factors in predicting the risk of postoperative wound infection.