Caracterización de las infecciones posoperatorias en un servicio de cirugía general / Characterization of Postoperative Infections in a General Surgery Service

Introducción: Las infecciones del sitio quirúrgico u operatorio constituyen un grave problema sanitario por lo que su prevención y tratamiento representan un reto para las instituciones hospitalarias. Objetivo: Describir las características de las infecciones posoperatorias según las principales causas relacionadas con su aparición. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y observacional con 207 pacientes ingresados y operados de cirugías mayores que presentaron infecciones posoperatorias en el Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Provincial Docente "Saturnino Lora" de Santiago de Cuba, durante 2018-2020. Resultados: La tasa global de infecciones posquirúrgicas fue de 4,18 pr ciento. Las infecciones incisionales superficiales, seguidas de las profundas fueron las más frecuentes. El número de pacientes infectados se triplicó en los operados con urgencia respecto a los electivos, con predominio de los apendicectomizados. El tiempo quirúrgico y la estadía hospitalaria promedio se elevaron en los pacientes infectados. Fallecieron 12 integrantes de la casuística, atribuible a la infección generalizada y el choque séptico. Conclusiones: La aparición de las infecciones posquirúrgicas se relacionan con factores dependientes del enfermo; de la propia cirugía como es la calificación del cirujano actuante, así como la presencia de factores de riesgos preoperatorios y durante la intervención. La infección incisional superficial es la más frecuente, en tanto que la mayoría de los pacientes que fallecen corresponden a aquellos con infección de órganos y espacios(AU)

Introduction: Surgical (or operative) site infections are a serious health problem, a reason why their prevention and treatment represent a challenge for hospital institutions. Objective: To describe the characteristics of postoperative infections according to the main causes related to their occurrence. Methods: A descriptive and observational study was carried out with 207 patients admitted and operated on in major surgeries who presented postoperative infections in the general surgery service of Saturnino Lora Provincial Teaching Hospital of Santiago de Cuba, during 2018-2020. Results: The overall rate of postoperative infections was 4.18 percent. Superficial incisional infections, followed by deep incisional infections, were the most frequent. The number of infected patients was tripled in those operated on urgently compared to electively, with a predominance of appendectomized patients. Surgical time and average hospital stay were higher in infected patients. 12 members of the casuistics have passed, attributable to generalized infection and septic shock. Conclusions: The occurrence of postoperative infections is related to factors depending on the patient; on the surgery itself, such as the qualification of the surgeon; as well as on the presence of preoperative and intraoperative risk factors. Superficial incisional infection is the most frequent, while most of the patients who die correspond to those with infection of organs and spaces(AU)

Incisional Infection Postphacoemulsification in a Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

A 32-year-old captive female Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) was diagnosed with a hypermature resorbed cataract in the right eye and a mature cataract with phacolytic uveitis in the left eye. No other systemic or neurologic physical abnormalities were detected. The patient was considered blind from bilateral cataracts, and with a reduced quality of life, surgery was indicated to remove the mature cataract in the left eye. Before surgery, the phacolytic uveitis was treated in the left eye for 1 week with topical and systemic anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication. Unilateral phacoemulsification was performed on the left eye while under general anesthesia. The individual recovered uneventfully and regained vision in the left eye. The bird was returned to its enclosure 8 days after the surgical procedure. No abnormalities were noted in behavior or reintegration. Three weeks after the phacoemulsification was performed in the left eye, the individual presented with active uveitis, without vision loss, suspected secondary to incisional infection, which was managed with topical and systemic anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication. At day 41 the patient was discharged with no disease conditions affecting the left eye, and the flamingo's vision was considered significantly improved compared with initial presentation. Phacoemulsification was safe and effective in removing the lens, resolving phacolytic uveitis, and restoring vision in spite of the postsurgical incisional infection. Some adaptations in the surgical approach and medical management are recommended on the basis of morphology, feeding habits, and behavior of this aquatic avian species to avoid postsurgical incisional infection and uveitis.

Morbilidad y mortalidad por infecciones posoperatorias / Morbidity and mortality from postoperative infections

Introducción: a pesar de los avances de las técnicas quirúrgicas, anestésicas y de la biotecnología, las infecciones continúan aumentando la morbilidad y mortalidad del paciente operado. En este trabajo nos proponemos como objetivo determinar la morbilidad y mortalidad por infecciones posquirúrgicas según algunos factores que inciden en su aparición. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal de 207 pacientes ingresados y operados de cirugías mayores que presentaron infecciones posoperatorias en el Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Provincial Docente Saturnino Lora de Santiago de Cuba, durante el trienio 2008-2010. Resultados: la tasa global de infecciones posquirúrgicas fue de 4,6 por ciento, mientras que la de heridas limpias representó 1,6 por ciento. El número de intervenciones urgentes y su tasa de infección posoperatoria global superaron los de las electivas. Las infecciones incisionales superficiales, seguidas de las localizadas en órgano y espacio fueron las más frecuentes. El tiempo quirúrgico y la estadía hospitalaria promedio se elevaron en los pacientes infectados. Fallecieron 16 integrantes de la casuística, para una tasa de mortalidad de 7,7 por ciento, atribuible fundamentalmente a la infección generalizada y el choque séptico. Conclusiones: el grado de contaminación y el tipo de cirugía se relacionaron significativamente con la aparición de las infecciones posquirúrgicas, aunque también pueden incidir las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes y la prolongación del tiempo quirúrgico, en tanto que las tasas de las infecciones posoperatorias en general y de las de heridas limpias en particular, se consideraron aceptables, así como bajas las de mortalidad al compararlas con los informes nacionales y extranjeros sobre el tema(AU)

Introduction: Despite the advances in the surgical and anesthetic techniques and in biotechnology, infections are still increasing the morbidity and mortality of the surgical patients. This paper was intended to determine the mortality and the morbidity caused by post-surgical infections depending on some factors that influence their occurrence. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational and descriptive study of 207 hospitalized patients, who had undergone major surgeries and had presented with postoperative infections at the general surgery service of Saturnino Lora provincial teaching hospital of Santiago de Cuba from 2008 to 2010. Results: The global postsurgical infection rate was 4.6 percent whereas that of the clean wounds was 1.6 percent. The number of emergency surgeries and their global postoperative infection rate exceeded the figures of the elective surgeries. The most frequent were the superficial incisional infections followed by those found in organs and interstices. The surgical time and the length of stay at hospital, as average, increased in infected patients. Sixteen patients of the casuistry group died, for a mortality rate of 7.7 percent, mainly due to generalized infection and septic shock. Conclusions: The level of pollution and the type of surgery were significantly related to the occurrence of postsurgical infections, although both can also be affected by the chemical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients and the length of surgical time. The postsurgical infection rates in general and that of the clean wounds in particular were regarded as acceptable, as well as the mortality rates were considered low if compare to the domestic and foreign reports on the same topic(AU)