• Xavier Serra-Aracil, María Isabel García-Domingo, David Parés, Eloi Espin-Basany, Sebastiano Biondo, Xavier Guirao, Carola Orrego, and Antonio Sitges-Serra.
• Unidad de Coloproctologia, Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Corporación Sanitària Parc Taulí, Parc Taulí s/n, 08208 Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. jserraa@tauli.cat
• Arch Surg. 2011 May 1;146(5):606-12.

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI) after elective operations for colon and rectal cancer after the application of evidence-based preventive measures and to identify risk factors for SSI.DesignProspective, observational, multicenter.SettingTertiary and community public hospitals in Catalonia, Spain.PatientsConsecutive patients undergoing elective surgical resections for colon and rectal cancer during a 9-month period.Main Outcome MeasuresThe prevalence of SSI within 30 days after the operations and risk factors for SSI.ResultsData from 611 patients were documented: 383 patients underwent operations for colon cancer and 228 underwent operations for rectal cancer. Surgical site infection was observed in 89 (23.2%) colon cancer patients (superficial, 12.8%; deep, 2.1%; and organ/space, 8.4%) and in 63 (27.6%) rectal cancer patients (superficial, 13.6%; deep, 5.7%; and organ/space, 8.3%). For colon procedures, the following independent predictive factors were identified: for incisional SSI, open procedure vs laparoscopy; for organ/space SSI, hyperglycemia at 48 hours postoperatively (serum glucose level, >200 mg/dL), ostomy, and National Nosocomial Infection System index of 1 or more. In rectal procedures, no risk factors were identified for incisional SSI; hyperglycemia at 48 hours postoperatively (serum glucose level, >200 mg/dL) and temperature lower than 36°C at the time of surgical incision were associated with organ/space SSI.ConclusionThe prevalence of SSI in elective colon and rectal operations remains high despite the application of evidence-based preventive measures.

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