SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM OF PURULENT SURGICAL DISEASES

The case records of 259 patients with purulent surgical diseases are a nalysed. The following social groups of patients were distinguished; s tudents - 10.4 %, office workers - 20.5 %, factory and agricultural wo rkers - 35.9 %, lonely pensioners, invalids, and homeless persons - 33 .2 %. The last named group is least socially protected, and the diseas es in these cases have a characteristic course and outcomes. In the gr oups of students and office workers the disease is predominantly marke d by the formation of abscesses with rapid resolution after an operati ve intervention. In the socially unprotected group with somatic diseas es, poor nutrition, and absence of care, the purulent process takes a phlegmanous course calling for the use of antibiotics and immunostimul ators. The percentage of rehospitalization among these patients is hig h (up to 20 %) due, in many respects, to social factors.