Surveillance of surgical site infection in a teaching hospital in Ghana: a prospective cohort study

A. Bediako-Bowan*, E. Owusu, S. Debrah, A. Kjerulf, M. J. Newman, J. A.L. Kurtzhals, K. Mølbak

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

16 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Surveillance systems for surgical site infections (SSIs), as a measure of patient safety, help health institutions devise strategies to reduce or prevent them. No surveillance systems exist to monitor SSIs in Ghana. Aim: To establish a system for monitoring trends and detecting outbreaks in order to create awareness of and control SSIs. Methods: An active 30-day surveillance was undertaken at the general surgical unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, from July 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2018 to identify SSI. It involved a daily inpatient surveillance of patients who had had a surgical procedure, followed by post-discharge surveillance by means of a healthcare personnel-based survey and a patient-based telephone survey. We supplied quarterly feedback of results to surgeons. Findings: Among the 3267 patients included, 331 were identified with an SSI, a 10% incidence risk. Patients who acquired an SSI experienced increased morbidity including nine extra days in hospital and an adjusted relative mortality risk of 2.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.3 - 4.1; P=0.006) compared to patients without SSI. Forty-nine per cent (161/331) of SSIs were diagnosed post discharge using the healthcare personnel-based survey. The patient-based telephone survey contributed 12 additional cases. SSI incidence risk decreased from 12.8% to 7.5% during the study period. Conclusion: Post-discharge surveillance is feasible using existing healthcare personnel, and the results highlight the high risk and burden of SSIs in Ghana. A surveillance system with feedback for monitoring SSIs may contribute to reducing SSIs; however, firm conclusions regarding the impact need longer observation time.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Hospital Infection
Vol/bind104
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)321-327
ISSN0195-6701
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2020

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