Journal Article

Incidence of Surgical Site Infection and Use of Antibiotics among Patients Who Underwent Caesarean Section and Herniorrhaphy at a Regional Referral Hospital, Sierra Leone

Kamara, Kadijatu Nabbie, Carshon-Marsh, Ronald, Manzi, Marcel, Reid, Anthony, Guth, Jamie Ann, Delamou, Alexandre, Camara, Bienvenu Salim, Khogali, Mohamed Ahmed, Sargsyan, Aelita, Kenneh, Sartie, Squire, James Sylvester

2022

Overview

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common postoperative complications. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) can prevent the occurrence of SSIs if administered appropriately. We carried out a retrospective cohort study to determine the incidence of SSIs and assess whether SAP were administered according to WHO guidelines for Caesarean section (CS) and herniorrhaphy patients in Bo regional government hospital from November 2019 to October 2020. The analysis included 681 patients (599 CSs and 82 herniorrhaphies). Overall, the SSI rate was 6.7% among all patients, and 7.5% and 1.2% among CS patients and herniorrhaphy patients, respectively. SAP was administered preoperatively in 85% of CS and 70% of herniorrhaphy patients. Postoperative antibiotics were prescribed to 85% of CS and 100% of herniorrhaphy patients. Ampicillin, metronidazole, and amoxicillin were the most commonly used antibiotics. The relatively low rate of SSIs observed in this study is probably due to improved infection prevention and control (IPC) measures following the Ebola outbreak and the current COVID-19 pandemic. A good compliance rate with WHO guidelines for preoperative SAP was observed. However, there was a high use of postoperative antibiotics, which is not in line with WHO guidelines. Recommendations were made to ensure the appropriate administration of SAP and reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use / Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Antibiotics / Antimicrobial agents / Cesarean section / Cesarean Section - adverse effects / COVID-19 / Disease prevention / Drug dosages / Female / GNI / Gross National Income / Health facilities / Health surveillance / Herniorrhaphy / Hospitals / Humans / Incidence / Nosocomial infections / Pandemics / Patients / Penicillin / Population / Pregnancy / Referral and Consultation / Retrospective Studies / Sierra Leone - epidemiology / Surgical site infections / Surgical Wound Infection - epidemiology / Surgical Wound Infection - prevention & control / World Health Organization