Abstract
ABSTRACT:Wound infections can be defined as invasion of tissues by microorganisms following disruption of local and systemic host defenses, leading to cellulitis, lymphangitis, abscesses, and bacteremia.Despite best efforts to maintain sterility, most surgical wounds are contaminated to some degree. However, if contamination minimal, the wound is created without undue damage, the subcutaneous tissue is well perfused and oxygenated, and there is no dead space, infection rarely occurs. AIMS & OBJECTIVES :This prospective study aims at incidence and risk factors of surgical site infections (SSI) in general surgical wards at a tertiary care center, Government General Hospital, Ananthapuram. PATIENTS & METHODS :This is a Prospective study done in General Surgery In patients, Government General Hospital, Ananthapuramu done for One and half year starting from December 2020 to May 2022 .Inclusion criteria-Patients who developed surgical site infection following either elective or non- traumatic emergency surgery,Age > 18 years,Patients giving Informed consent.Exclusion criteria:Pregnant women,Age < 18 years,Traumatic conditions requiring surgery,Patients not giving Informed consent.Results: Peak incidence of SSI is noted in the age group of 30-39 years.Majority of the patients were males.Male to female ratio was 1.5:11Patients of Emergency surgeries had more incidence of SSI with 20.66 %.With prolonged preoperative Hospitalization,SSI incidence is higher.In our study,most common type of Discharge from wound site was Serosanguineous.Most common organism isolated was staphylococcus aureus.

Key words: surgical, wound, infection, discharge