Risk factors incidence of surgical wound infection following abdominal hysterectomy

Background and Objective: Surgical wound infection is the most common complication following surgery. This study was done to determine the incidence risk factors of surgical wound infection following abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on 400 patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy in Babol, North of Iran, during 2008-10. Age, underlying disease, BMI, use of immunosuppressive drugs hospitalization period prior to surgery, shaving and bath time, prophylactic antibiotic, duration of surgery, diagnosis and pathology were recorded for each patient. Evidence of surgical location of infection including surgical discharge, erythema and dehiscence of surgical wound with and without fever during 10 days after surgery were recorded. Results: Surgical wound infection was seen in 26 patients (6.5%) following abdominal hysterectomy. Regression analysis determined, use of immune-suppressive (95% CI: 1.71-480.30, P=0.020, OR:28.70) and emergency operation (95% CI: 1.42-14.39, P=0.011, OR: 4.52), diabetes (95% CI: 1.23-11.26, P=0.020, OR:3.72) were risk factors for surgical wound infection. Conclusion: Immuno-suppressive agents, emergency operation and diabetes increased surgical wound infection in post- abdominal hysterectomy