Additional surgical procedure is a risk factor for surgical site infections after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Prevalence and risk factors of post-cholecystectomy surgical site infections

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of post-cholecystectomy surgical site infection and identify the associated risk factors and their association with its prevalence.

Method

A cross-sectional analytical study including all patients who underwent cholecystectomy in the period from January 2021 to March 2022. The data sheet was filled with records of the patients, and some questions were asked of the patients directly. Many risk factors were assessed and measured in their association with the development of postoperative SSI.

Results

One hundred seventy-two patients with a mean age of 46.41±13.37 participated in the study. Thirty-five (20.3%) of them were males, and 137 (79.7%) were females. Open cholecystectomy 121 (70.3%) was done more than laparoscopic cholecystectomy 51 (29.7%). The most common indication for cholecystectomy was found to be both cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (53.5%). Out of 172 patients, postoperative wound infection [surgical site infection (SSI)] developed in 29 (16.9%) patients. Of these, 8 (27.6%) were males, while 21 (72.4%) were females, with a mean age of 46.38 (SD=14.12) years. Prophylactic antibiotics intraoperatively and therapeutic antibiotics postoperatively were found to decrease the risk of developing SSI [P=0.005, odds ratio (OR)=0.073] (P=0.012, OR=0.153), respectively. However, hospital stay after surgery (<1 week) was also found to decrease the risk (P=0.001, OR=0.179).

Conclusions

The prevalence of post-cholecystectomy SSI is high despite a small sample size in comparison with other studies. Prophylactic antibiotics and short hospital stays have an important role in decreasing the risk of developing postoperative SSI.

No impact of sex on surgical site infections in abdominal surgery: a multi-center study

OBJECTIVE

Male sex is controversially discussed as a risk factor for surgical site infections (SSI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of sex on SSI in abdominal surgery under elimination of relevant confounders.

METHODS

Clinicopathological data of 6603 patients undergoing abdominal surgery from a multi-center prospective database of four Swiss hospitals including patients between 2015 and 2018 were assessed. Patients were stratified according to postoperative SSI and risk factors for SSI were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

In 649 of 6603 patients, SSI was reported (9.8%). SSI was significantly associated with reoperation (22.7% vs. 3.4%, p < 0.001), increased mortality rate (4.6% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.001), and increased rate of length of hospital stay > 75th percentile (57.0% vs. 17.9%, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, male sex was a significant risk factor for SSI (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis including multiple confounders' such as comorbidities and perioperative factors, there was no association between male sex and risk of SSI (odds ratio (OR) 1.1 [CI 0.8-1.4]). Independent risk factors for SSI in multivariate analysis were BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (OR 1.8 [CI 1.3-2.3]), duration of surgery > 75th percentile (OR 2.3 [1.8-2.9]), high contamination level (OR 1.3 [1.0-1.6]), laparotomy (OR 1.3 [1.0-1.7]), previous laparotomy (OR 1.4 [1.1-1.7]), blood transfusion (OR 1.7 [1.2-2.4]), cancer (OR 1.3 [1.0-1.8] and malnutrition (OR 2.5 [1.8-3.4]).

CONCLUSION

Under elimination of relevant confounders, there is no significant correlation between sex and risk of SSI after abdominal surgery.

Surgical site infection in a Greek general surgery department: who is at most risk?

OBJECTIVE

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are associated with protracted hospitalisation, antibiotics administration, and increased morbidity and mortality. This work investigated the incidence rate of SSIs in the Department of General Surgery at the University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece, the associated risk factors and pathogens responsible.

METHOD

In this prospective cohort study, patients who underwent elective procedures under general anaesthesia were enrolled. Risk factors monitored included age, sex, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, preoperative length of stay, chemoprophylaxis, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, and the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (NNIS) basic SSI risk index.

RESULTS

Of the 1058 enrolled patients, 80 (7.6%) developed SSIs. Of the total cohort, 62.5% of patients received chemoprophylaxis for >24 hours. A total of 20 different pathogens, each with multiple strains (n=108 in total), were identified, 53 (49.5%) Gram-negative rods, 46 (42%) Gram-positive cocci, and nine (8.4%) fungi (Candida spp.). Escherichia coli was the prevalent microorganism (24.3%). SSI-related risk factors, as defined by univariate analysis, included: ICU stay, ASA score >2 (p<0.001), NNIS score >0, and wound classes II, III, and IV. Also, serum albumin levels <3.5g/dl were associated with increased rate of SSIs. The multivariate model identified an NNIS score of >0 and wound classes II, III, and IV as independent SSI-related risk factors.

CONCLUSION

This study showed high SSI rates. Several factors were associated with increased SSI rates, as well as overuse of prophylactic antibiotics. The results of the present study could be a starting point for the introduction of a system for recording and actively monitoring SSIs in Greek hospitals, and implementation of specific guidelines according to risk factors.

A cross sectional study of risk factors for surgical site infections after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy in a tertiary care hospital in North East India

Background:

Surgical site infection (SSI) after cholecystectomy unduly delays patients' early return to normal activities and also leaves behind relatively disfigured cosmetic scars at the port sites. This prospective study was undertaken to assess the various risk factors leading to SSI in patients undergoing cholecystectomy, both by laparoscopic and open techniques in this part of India for which no data is available at present.

Material and Methods:

A total of 1507 cholecystectomies (1184 by laparoscopy and 323 by open technique) during a 6 year period. The various risk factors studied were gender, age, BMI, DM, chronic anaemia, COPD, timing of surgery (elective or emergent), influence of surgeon (operated by resident surgeon or faculty), intraoperative bile spillage, etc., Odd's ratio was calculated to see the influence of the factors on SSI and statistical significance was tested by Chi-square test.

Results:

The overall rate of infection was 3.12% (1.94% in laparoscopy and 7.43% in the open technique). Intraoperative bile spillage, increasing age, increased duration of surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy done by resident surgeons, increased intraoperative blood loss, emergent operations done for acute cholecystitis, etc., were associated with higher rates of SSI.

Conclusion:

Meticulous operative techniques avoiding bile spillage and blood loss during cholecystectomy may reduce the chances of developing SSI.

Factors influencing harmonized health data collection, sharing and linkage in Denmark and Switzerland: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The digitalization of medicine has led to a considerable growth of heterogeneous health datasets, which could improve healthcare research if integrated into the clinical life cycle. This process requires, amongst other things, the harmonization of these datasets, which is a prerequisite to improve their quality, re-usability and interoperability. However, there is a wide range of factors that either hinder or favor the harmonized collection, sharing and linkage of health data.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to identify barriers and facilitators to health data harmonization-including data sharing and linkage-by a comparative analysis of studies from Denmark and Switzerland.

METHODS

Publications from PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and CINAHL involving cross-institutional or cross-border collection, sharing or linkage of health data from Denmark or Switzerland were searched to identify the reported barriers and facilitators to data harmonization.

RESULTS

Of the 345 projects included, 240 were single-country and 105 were multinational studies. Regarding national projects, a Swiss study reported on average more barriers and facilitators than a Danish study. Barriers and facilitators of a technical nature were most frequently reported.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review gathered evidence from Denmark and Switzerland on barriers and facilitators concerning data harmonization, sharing and linkage. Barriers and facilitators were strictly interrelated with the national context where projects were carried out. Structural changes, such as legislation implemented at the national level, were mirrored in the projects. This underlines the impact of national strategies in the field of health data. Our findings also suggest that more openness and clarity in the reporting of both barriers and facilitators to data harmonization constitute a key element to promote the successful management of new projects using health data and the implementation of proper policies in this field. Our study findings are thus meaningful beyond these two countries.

Reporting of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Consistent measurement and reporting of outcomes, including adequately defined complications, is important for the evaluation of surgical care and the appraisal of new surgical techniques. The range of complications reported after LC has not been evaluated. This study aimed to identify the range of complications currently reported for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and the adequacy of their definitions.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for prospective studies reporting clinical outcomes of LC, between 2013 and 2016.

RESULTS

In total 233 studies were included, reporting 967 complications, of which 204 (21%) were defined. One hundred and twenty-two studies (52%) did not provide definitions for any of the complications reported. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was the most commonly reported complication, reported in 135 (58%) studies, followed by bile leak in 89 (38%) and bile duct injury in 75 (32%). Mortality was reported in 89 studies (38%).

CONCLUSION

Considerable variation was identified between studies in the choice of measures used to evaluate the complications of LC, and in their definitions. A standardised set of core outcomes of LC should be developed for use in clinical trials and in evaluating the performance of surgical units.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection After Cholecystectomy

Background

There are limited data on risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) after open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of commercially insured persons aged 18–64 years was assembled using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure or Current Procedural Terminology, 4th edition codes for cholecystectomy from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2010. Complex procedures and patients (eg, cancer, end-stage renal disease) and procedures with pre-existing infection were excluded. Surgical site infections within 90 days after cholecystectomy were identified by ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent risk factors for SSI.

Results

Surgical site infections were identified after 472 of 66566 (0.71%) cholecystectomies; incidence was higher after open (n = 51, 4.93%) versus laparoscopic procedures (n = 421, 0.64%; P < .001). Independent risk factors for SSI included male gender, preoperative chronic anemia, diabetes, drug abuse, malnutrition/weight loss, obesity, smoking-related diseases, previous Staphylococcus aureus infection, laparoscopic approach with acute cholecystitis/obstruction (hazards ratio [HR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–1.96), open approach with (HR, 4.29; 95% CI, 2.45–7.52) or without acute cholecystitis/obstruction (HR, 4.04; 95% CI, 1.96–8.34), conversion to open approach with (HR, 4.71; 95% CI, 2.74–8.10) or without acute cholecystitis/obstruction (HR, 7.11; 95% CI, 3.87–13.08), bile duct exploration, postoperative chronic anemia, and postoperative pneumonia or urinary tract infection.

Conclusions

Acute cholecystitis or obstruction was associated with significantly increased risk of SSI with laparoscopic but not open cholecystectomy. The risk of SSI was similar for planned open and converted procedures. These findings suggest that stratification by operative factors is important when comparing SSI rates between facilities.

Closed incision negative pressure therapy: international multidisciplinary consensus recommendations

Surgical site occurrences (SSOs) affect up to or over 25% of patients undergoing operative procedures, with the subset of surgical site infections (SSIs) being the most common. Commercially available closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) may offer surgeons an additional option to manage clean, closed surgical incisions. We conducted an extensive literature search for studies describing ciNPT use and assembled a diverse panel of experts to create consensus recommendations for when using ciNPT may be appropriate. A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials using key words ‘prevention’, ‘negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)’, ‘active incisional management’, ‘incisional vacuum therapy’, ‘incisional NPWT’, ‘incisional wound VAC’, ‘closed incisional NPWT’, ‘wound infection’, and ‘SSIs’ identified peer‐reviewed studies published from 2000 to 2015. During a multidisciplinary consensus meeting, the 12 experts reviewed the literature, presented their own ciNPT experiences, identified risk factors for SSOs and developed comprehensive consensus recommendations. A total of 100 publications satisfied the search requirements for ciNPT use. A majority presented data supporting ciNPT use. Numerous publications reported SSI risk factors, with the most common including obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²); diabetes mellitus; tobacco use; or prolonged surgical time. We recommend that the surgeon assess the individual patient's risk factors and surgical risks. Surgeons should consider using ciNPT for patients at high risk for developing SSOs or who are undergoing a high‐risk procedure or a procedure that would have highly morbid consequences if an SSI occurred.