Aerobic Bacteria from Surgical Wound Infections in Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward in Specialist Hospital Sokoto – North West Nigeria

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the third most common hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and account for 14% to 16% of all such infections. About 8.9% of Cesarean deliveries results in surgical site infections. It is the most common abdominal surgery among women in developed and developing countries. Infections arising from caesarean section causes prolonged hospital stay and there is a widespread aversion to caesarean delivery in Sokoto State.

Aim: Our aim is to determine the occurrence of surgical site nosocomial infections in Obstetrics and Gynecology ward of specialist hospital Sokoto.

Methods: This was a prospective study of surgical patients admitted into the Obstetrics and Gynecology (O and G) ward for the period of January to July 2014. SSI was diagnosed and classified according to the CDC system of standardized surveillance criteria for defining surgical site infection. Wound swabs were collected and processed as per standard microbiology procedures; and susceptibility testing was carried out using a disc diffusion technique. Data was presented in tables and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 20.0).

Results: The overall incidence of SSI was 10.4%. Patients of age less than 20 years were not only the predominant patients who underwent surgical operations, but also had the highest frequency of infection rate (14.3%).Emergency cesarean section had a greater rate of infection (14.1%). Staphylococcus spp. was the most common aetiology.

Conclusions: Surgical Site Infection complicates surgeries in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward of Specialist hospital Sokoto and a system for surgical site infection surveillance with feedback of appropriate data to surgeons is highly recommended.