Patient-related Factors that Influence Surgical Site Infections among Post Laparotomy Patients in the Surgical Unit at Thika Level 5 Hospital Kiambu County

A surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of surgical procedures and represents one form of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) acquired by patients before, during, or after receiving surgical intervention. It's the second most common Healthcare-Associate Infection, and it's responsible for the rise of antibiotic resistance and the deaths of millions of people every year. This research examined patients done laparotomy procedure at Thika Level 5 Hospital (TL5H), which forms a good representation of study population to identify risk factors for surgical site infections. The research took the form of analytical cross-sectional study. Post laparotomy Patients at the hospital throughout the research period made up the study's primary population. One hundred and ninety-six patients from the gynecology and surgery departments were selected at random. Quantitative data on patient-related variables and institutional factors as predictors of SSIs was collected using a questionnaire designed in accordance with CDC guidelines and SSI Surveillance checklist tool. Pretesting of data tools were conducted in Kiambu level 5 hospital in Kiambu County to ensure validity and reliability of data tools. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program, version 25.0, and participants' privacy was protected at all times. The study found that factors such as delay in seeking treatment, age, nutritional status, smoking habits, existing medical conditions, transfusion after surgery, and length of hospital stay before surgery were significantly associated with SSIs. Institutional factors such as timing of prophylaxis antibiotics, length of hospital stay after surgery, hygiene practices observed by healthcare workers, and the duration of the operation influence the incidence of SSIs significantly.

The healthcare facilities should implement strict protocols for pre-operative and post-operative care, including timely administration of prophylaxis antibiotics. Healthcare workers should adhere to proper hygiene practices, including hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment. Patients should be educated on the importance of seeking timely medical care and adopting healthy lifestyle practices to reduce the risk of SSIs. The results of this research will be published and utilized to close the knowledge gaps that contribute to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with SSIs after laparotomy.