Surgical site infections in ambulatory surgery: A 5-year experience

Objectives: To evaluate the ambulatory surgical site infection rate and ris k factors associated with surgical site infection. Methods: We conducted a case-control analysis of all ambulatory surgeries between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1997. The frequency of surgical site infection per 100 sur geries was calculated. The odds ratio (OR) was estimated by using logistic regression analysis. Setting: A 140-bed tertiary-care teaching hospital for adult patients with cancer. Results: The study followed 1350 outpatient surgeries. Thirty-eight patient s had a surgical site infection (rate per 100 surgeries: 2.8). The risk fac tors statistically associated with surgical site infection were postoperati ve antibiotics (OR = 7.5; 95% CI, 2.5-23.0), and surgical time > 35 minutes (OR = 2.4; 95% Ct, 1.1-5.5). Conclusions: The surgical site infection rate for same-day surgery at our h ospital is within the limits reported in the literature and below the rates reported previously for inpatient surgeries at our hospital. Full review o f medical records and microbiology reports at day 30 allowed us to identify infections that otherwise would have been missed. Postoperative antibiotic s may increase the risk of infection.