Surgical infections due to gram-negative bacteria are important because of their high frequency, morbidity and mortality. In order to evaluate the risk factors and prognostics of gram-negative surgical wound infections a group of 50 patients with surgical infections were studied prospectively and consecutively and were compared with another group of 50 patients with similar characteristics but no infection. No significant differences were observed with respect to age between the two groups. Previous surgery, prior surgical infections and use of wide-spectrum antibiotics in the six weeks before the study were significantly associated with the development of surgical wound infections due to gram-negative bacteria. The most isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34%), followed by polymicrobial flora (16%). The factors significantly associated with a poor prognosis were the following: severe underlying disease, a clinically critical situation, previous surgery, arterial hypertension, complications, type of gram-negative bacteria, prior use of wide-spectrum antibiotics in the previous six weeks and older age. No deaths occurred.
Cross Infection Female