India Faces High Surgical Site Infection Rate, ICMR Study Reveals

A recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlights surgical site infections (SSIs), a significant public health issue in India. According to the report, approximately 1.5 million patients in India develop infections after surgery, with the infection rate standing at 5.2%, a figure much higher than in many high-income countries.

High SSI Rates in Orthopedic Surgery

The ICMR’s report was conducted across three major hospitals. Including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Kasturba Hospital, and Tata Memorial Hospital. This report revealed that orthopedic surgeries face the highest risk of SSIs. The infection rate of 54.2%  in Orthopedic procedures makes it a global concern. Additionally, an elevated risk of infection was found in surgeries that lasted over 120 minutes.

Among the types of surgeries most prone to SSIs are wound debridement surgeries, including amputation and internal fixation surgeries like open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF). The study also found that surgeries involving multiple procedures simultaneously were more likely to result in infections.

ICMR Launches SSI Surveillance Network to Combat the Issue

To tackle this issue, ICMR has launched a Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Surveillance Network. The initiative aims to support doctors and medical institutions nationwide in reducing and preventing SSIs. The network will track SSIs during a patient’s hospital stay as well as post-discharge, as 66% of cases were identified after patients left the hospital.

ICMR has also created a comprehensive database of surgical infections, marking India’s first attempt to establish such a system. This initiative could serve as a critical tool in preventing future infections and improving post-surgery care.

Wound Classification and Post-Discharge Monitoring

The report further emphasizes the importance of proper wound classification and post-surgery monitoring to identify infections. Clean and contaminated wounds, as well as surgeries lasting longer than two hours, were closely linked to higher infection rates. The study stresses that monitoring continues even after a patient is discharged to ensure early detection and treatment.