Keywords
Infection Control
Surgical Site Infection
Surveillance
Patient Safety
Abstract
Background: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) represent one of the most frequent and costly healthcare-associated infections, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Surveillance programs are essential for monitoring and preventing SSIs, yet there is variability in their implementation and effectiveness across healthcare facilities. This study aims to assess the trends of SSIs at Ferrara Teaching Hospital for providing useful data to improve surveillance systems.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on data from 2020 to 2023, of SIChER surveillance system and Hospital Discharge Cards of Ferrara Teaching Hospital. The study examined infection rates across various surgical procedures, applying two key indicators: SSIs Percentage by Category and Incidence Density of Hospital-Onset SSIs. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software.
Results: During the study period, an average of 5,158 surgical procedures were performed annually, with a steady increase in SIChER-monitored procedures, reaching 80.7% coverage in 2023. The highest infection rates were observed in colon surgery, while cardiac surgery consistently recorded no infections. The overall incidence density of hospital-onset SSIs was 0.18 per 1,000 follow-up days, with significant variations across surgical categories. The accuracy of HDCs in documenting SSIs improved over time, reaching 97.2% match in 2023.
Conclusions: The study highlights an increasing trend in SSI surveillance coverage and accuracy, demonstrating the effectiveness of SIChER in monitoring infections. However, variations in infection rates across procedures suggest the need for targeted interventions, particularly for high-risk surgeries such as colorectal and orthopaedic procedures.
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