An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study has revealed that the rate of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) in three major Indian hospitals exceeds that found in several high-income countries. The study, which examined a cohort of 3,020 patients, highlighted SSIs as one of the most common healthcare-associated infections.
Among the various surgical procedures, debridement surgeries—such as amputation, open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), or closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF)—showed the highest rate of SSIs, reaching 54.2%. These infections contribute to increased health complications, extended hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs.
While India lacks a comprehensive surveillance system for SSIs after patient discharge, the study aimed to fill this gap by analyzing both hospital-acquired and post-discharge infections. The study was conducted across three leading hospitals: Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC), Kasturba Medical College (KMC), and Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH).
The SSI rate in India was found to be higher than in many high-income countries, where the infection rates usually range from 1.2% to 5.2%. However, India’s rate was lower than that observed in Gujarat and slightly higher than rates in cities like Dehradun and countries like Iran and Egypt.
The research also discovered that factors such as prolonged surgeries and wound contamination increased the likelihood of SSIs. Notably, post-discharge surveillance played a crucial role in identifying 66% of cases, particularly for patients undergoing combination surgeries.
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