A Retrospective Trend Assessment of Surgical Site Infection Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles in Major Vascular Surgeries

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences | Vol. 15, No. 3, March 2025 | pp. 17–24

DOI: 10.46882/2025/IJMMS/150017

Original Research Article

A Retrospective Trend Assessment of Surgical Site Infection Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles in Major Vascular Surgeries

Blessing N. Chukwu¹, Patrick E. Lawson², Evelyn M. Kamau¹*

¹Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

²Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.

Abstract:

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following major vascular reconstructions are critical complications associated with high risks of graft failure, limb loss, and mortality. This retrospective clinical study evaluated the overall prevalence, specific clinical risk factors, and microbiological resistance trends of SSIs following elective lower-limb vascular bypass surgeries over a five-year period (2020–2024). De-identified medical charts of 550 patient files were extracted and analyzed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wound criteria. Out of 550 vascular procedures reviewed, 38 cases of confirmed SSIs were identified, resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 6.91%. The annual infection rate remained high, peaking in 2023 at 8.2%. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant bacterial pathogen isolated from wound cultures (44.7%), with 35.3% of these strains confirmed as methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Gram-negative bacilli, led by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accounted for 31.6% of infections. Antibiogram mapping revealed high resistance rates among Gram-negative isolates to ceftazidime (68.4%) and ciprofloxacin (63.2%), while all strains remained susceptible to amikacin and imipenem (100%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that an operative duration > 180 minutes (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.5–6.8, p < 0.01), pre-existing diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.8, p < 0.05), and an emergency reoperation procedure (OR = 2.4, p < 0.05) were independent predictors of SSI. Post-vascular surgery SSIs present significant management challenges due to multidrug-resistant pathogens, underscoring the necessity of strict perioperative wound care and optimized antibiotic prophylaxis bundles.

Keywords: Surgical Site Infection, Vascular Surgery, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Antibiotic Resistance, Risk Factors

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 08, 2024; Revised: January 15, 2025; Accepted: February 10, 2025; Published: March 14, 2025.

Citation: Chukwu BN, Lawson PE, Kamau EM. A Retrospective Trend Assessment of Surgical Site Infection Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles in Major Vascular Surgeries. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2025, 15(3): 17–24. DOI: 10.46882/2025/IJMMS/150017

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