Gilje EA, et al. – This study was designed to analyze the risk and impact of surgical site infection (SSI) in neonates. Outcomes disclosed that perioperative variables had a more significant impact on SSI than patient factors. These findings indicated that operation–related characteristics were influencing SSI. Moreover, neonates with SSI were more likely to have prolonged hospitalizations even after adjusting for patient comorbidities.

Methods

• The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP–P) collected data on children undergoing surgery at children’s hospitals from 2012 to 2014.
• With demographic characteristics and comorbidities, neonates undergoing general surgical procedures were characterized.
• Perioperative variables such as wound class, type of surgery and length of operation were also analyzed.

Results

• In the NSQIP–P participant user file, 7379 neonates were identified.
• 2.6% was the overall SSI rate.
• Only wound class and length of surgery were significantly associated with SSI.
• Moreover, SSI was independently associated with longer length of stay, even after adjusting for covariates.