Publication:

Surgical site infection after colorectal cancer surgery in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria

Background Colorectal surgery is associated with high rates of surgical site infection (SSI).  Determining risk factors for SSI may provide information on reducing complications and improving outcome.  The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of SSIs in colorectal cancer patients who had colorectal surgery in our centre, and to identify the risk factors for developing SSIs in these patients.

Methods This was a retrospective study of patients who had open colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer over a twelve-year period (2000 to 2012) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.  SSI included incisional SSI and organ/space SSI within thirty days of the surgery.

Results A total of 56 patient records were analyzed.  An infection rate of 33.9% was documented; all 19 infections were incisional SSIs, occurring after surgery involving the rectum and anus.  The perineal incision site was involved in 63.2%, of which 75% were superficial.  Wound dehiscence occurred in 26.3%.  Risk factors identified to be associated with SSIs include pre-operative bowel preparation, peri-operative blood transfusion, stoma creation, tumour location and the type of operation.

Conclusions The rate of SSIs following oncologic colorectal surgery in our centre is high at 33.9%. All the SSIs were incisional, involving surgery of the rectum and anus. The tumour site, type of operation, stoma creation, mechanical bowel preparation and blood transfusion were identified to be associated with SSIs.