Predictors of Postoperative Surgical Site Infection in Emergency Abdominal Surgeries
Submission: 05 April 2026 | Acceptance: 20 May 2026 | Publication: 15 June 2026
1Dr. Gulsharif, 2Umar Shah, 3Rizwan Ali, 4Ali Raza, 5Hadi Safdar, 6Khizar Hayat
1Assistant Professor, Surgery, MTI Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar
2PIMS Islamabad
3PIMS Islamabad
4PIMS Islamabad
5PIMS Islamabad
6PIMS Islamabad
Corresponding Author: Dr. Gulsharif
Assistant Professor, Surgery, MTI Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar
Abstract
Background: One of the most frequent and important postoperative complications is surgical site infection (SSI), particularly following emergency abdominal surgery. These are often practised under an emergency situation, with less time to maximise preoperative variables, less time to maximise the wound, physiologically defective patients and a far greater rate of SSI than that associated with elective surgeries. SSIs lead to increased morbidity and extended hospitalization, re-admission, unjustified antibiotic usage and increased healthcare expenditures.
Objective: To determine patient related, disease related and operative predictors in relation to postoperative surgical site infection of patient who underwent emergency abdominal surgeries.
Methods: It is an observational analytic study, a hospital based study, which was undertaken in the year June 2024-June 2025 at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Adults with abdominal surgical, emergency cases were involved. Demographic data and comorbidities, laboratory data, operative data and postoperative data were documented. Surgical site infections were categorized based on criteria that were given by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Statistical analysis was done in a bid to establish the influential predictors of SSI.
Result: It was discovered that the occurrence of postoperative SSI in the study greatly depended on old age, diabetes mellitus, anemia, late presentation, extended period of operation, and high wound contamination category as well as improper timing of antibiotic prophylaxis. Multivariate analysis established wound contamination, long operative time, and uncontrolled glycemic control as independent predictors of operative postoperative surgical site infection.
Conclusion: Some factors that influence postoperative surgical site infections in emergency abdominal operations include patient related factors, as well as operative factors. Timely identification of patients having high risks and adherence to evidence-based practices in the prevention of perioperative infections can help to considerably reduce the rate of SSI and enhance the outcomes of the surgical process.
Keywords: Surgical site infection, Emergency surgery, Abdominal surgery, Risk factors, Consecutive surgeries, The complications of surgery.