Surgical Wound Infection Following Laparotomy

Background: Surgical wound (site) infection is the commonest complication following laparotomy for clean-contaminated and contaminated abdominal operations. Good surgical technique and perioperative prophylactic antibiotics in clean-contaminated and contaminated abdominal operations contribute to the low rate of surgical wound infection and its complications. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and complications of surgical wound infection following laparotomy for clean-contaminated and contaminated abdominal operations at Muhimbili National Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study done over a period of nine months from January 2001. The study population included patients assessed to have clean-contaminated and contaminated laparotomy wounds Results: The study revealed that surgical wound infection was the commonest complication accounting for 15.6%. Other complications include mortality rate of 8.9% and wound dehiscence (1.1%). Conclusion: It was concluded that another study is required in order to determine the cost of surgical wound infection in this hospital that is in transition towards cost-sharing and health management reform. Also, a long follow up study is required to determine the prevalence of incisional hernia in these wounds.