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The objective of this study was to evaluate incidence and risk factors of postoperative infections, with emphasis on antibiotic prophylaxis, in a series of 4578 craniotomies. A prospective database was implemented for surveillance of postcraniotomy infections. During period A, no antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed for scheduled, clean craniotomies, lasting less than 4 h, whereas emergency, clean-contaminated or long-lasting craniotomies received cloxacillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate. During period B, prophylaxis was given to every craniotomy. The effect of prophylaxis on craniotomy infections, independently of other risk factors, was studied by multivariate analysis. The overall infection rate was 6.6%. CSF leak, male gender, surgical diagnosis, surgeon, early re-operation, surgical duration and absence of prophylaxis were independent risk factors. CSF leak had the highest odds ratio. Antibiotic prophylaxis decreased infection rate from 9.7% down to 5.8% in the entire population (p<0.0001) mainly by decreasing rates in low risk patients from 10.0% down to 4.6% (p<0.0001). Antibiotic prophylaxis in craniotomy is effective in preventing surgical site infections even in low-risk patients.

Objective: This study was aimed at describing the early development of wound infections after cardiac surgery to identify markers for upcoming infections., Design: We followed a cohort of 200 patients for 3 months after cardiac surgery to establish the incidence of all types of postoperative infections. Wound healing and C-reactive protein (CRP) were followed for the first 2 weeks., Results: A total of 175 patients out of 200 could be followed up. Using a broad definition of wound infection a total of 30% of the patients had some kind of wound infection. The diagnosis of most infections occurred after the patients had left the cardiac surgery unit (median 12 d after surgery). Our wound scoring method shows significant differences at an early stage between infected and non-infected wounds. At the time of diagnoses CRP was elevated in patients with deep sternal infection., Conclusion: A long follow-up period is needed to establish the true incidence of infection. Wound scoring can give an early indication of wound infections and CRP can help in the diagnoses of deep infections.

The incidence of infections in general surgery is related to different factors. Cost-benefit analysis of antimicrobic prophylaxis is positive, even though incorrect use may be even dangerous (development of resistance and/or superinfections, for instance). The authors report data on a study concerning a total of 316 patients divided into two series, who had antimicrobic prophylaxis before a surgical operation. 274 patients out of 316 (or 86.7%) had an ultra-short (one-shot-only) or short (<24 hours) prophylaxis, 42 (13.3%) standard (>24 hours). The operations performed were classified following class of contamination, i.e. I (clean), II (potentially contaminated), III (contaminated). Antibiotics used were ceftizoxime, cefepime, ceftriaxone, piperacillin and gentamicin in combination. A total of 16 postoperative infections was observed (5%); 11 of these 16 belonged to class III operations. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in most of the infected wounds. The data confirm what is reported in the literature. The authors conclude that a preoperative single-shot 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin reduces the incidence of wound infections in clean and clean-contaminated surgery.

The New CDC-definitions for surveillance of surgical site infections (1992) take into account 3 classes of surgical site infections (SSI): superficial and deep incisional SSI, and organ/space SSI. The most important host-related risk factors for development of SSI are advanced age, morbid obesity, disease severity, an ASA score > 2, prolonged preoperative hospital stay, and infection at distal sites. Microbial contamination of the surgical site occurs mainly during the surgical intervention. Although exogenous contamination may be of concern, especially in clean operations, most surgical site infections are caused by microorganisms of the patient's own commensal flora. SSI rates vary according to the type and duration of the surgical procedure and the skill of the surgeon. Proper surgical technique is the most important factor in the prevention of SSI. Modification of host risk factors should be attempted whenever possible. In addition, adequate protocols for antimicrobial prophylaxis with antibiotics should be followed. Surveillance of surgical site infections is probably beneficial for SSI prevention.