I. Noel et al., A SURVEY OF THE INCIDENCE AND CARE OF POSTOPERATIVE WOUND INFECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, The Journal of hospital infection, 36(4), 1997, pp. 267-273
The incidence of postoperative wound infection after clean surgery in
the four weeks following early discharge from hospital and its effect
on community medical services have been studied prospectively. The wou
nd infection rate as assessed by 118/155 patients who responded to a p
ostoperative questionnaire was 9%; half of the wound problems presente
d after discharge. Postoperative wound infection increased the time sp
ent by general practitioners per patient twofold, and that of practice
/district nurses greater than or equal to fivefold.