Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Post Operative Infections in the Limbe Regional Hospital of Cameroon

Background: Postoperative infections (POIs) contribute to morbidity and mortality of surgical patients. There was no data on the prevalence and associated risk factors of POIs in the Limbe Regional Hospital (RLH). Methods: Selected patients were those who underwent a surgical procedure and were admitted into the surgical or maternity ward of the LRH between January 2009 and August 2012. Data studied included demographic variables, type of surgical procedure performed and postoperative follow-up. Data was analyzed for evidence of POIs using the Chi-square test for categorical variables and test for significance of association between POI and sex, age, procedures performed, hospitalization ward and duration of hospital stay. Results: 848 patients were selected among whom 78.8% were females. 62.1% of the patients were selected from the Obstetric and Gynaecology ward, while 37.9%were from the surgical ward. The mean age of the study subjects was 32.3±12.4 years. 175 patients met the criteria for POI giving a prevalence of 20.6%. The Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward had the highest prevalence of POI (61.7%). Prevalence of POIs was highest (64.3%) among patients in the 0 10 years age group. Males (26.7%) were at a higher risk of developing POIs .There was a statistically significant difference between POI and participants’ age group (p<0.05). Peritonitis displayed the highest rate of POI (36.6%) while tubal ligation had the lowest (0%). Purulent wound discharge was the most frequent diagnostic criteria for postoperative infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of POIs ranged from 0 36.6%. Male sex and patients’ age seemed to be associated with a higher risk of POIs. Surgery for acute generalized peritonitis had the highest risk of developing POIs.