Monitoring Surgical Site Infections: Insights from an Italian Teaching Hospital

Background.Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are among one of the most frequent and costly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), leading to increased patient morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Surveillance programs are essential for detecting, monitoring, and preve nting SSIs. However, the implementation and effectiveness of these programs varies across healthcare facilities. This study aims to provide effective data gathered from SSI trend assessment at Ferrara Teaching Hospital to improve surveillance systems. Materials and methods. A retrospective study was conducted on data collected between 2020 to 2023 from the SIChER surveillance system and Hospital Discharge Cards at Ferrara Teaching Hospital. The analysis examined infection rates across various surgical procedures, applying two primary indicators: SSI Percentage by Category and Incidence Density of Hospital-Onset SSIs. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA software. Results. An average of 5,158 surgical procedures were executed annually between 2020 to 2023, and SIChER-monitored procedures steadily increased during this period, reaching 80.7% coverage in 2023. The highest infection rates were recorded in colon surgery, while cardiac surgery consistently recorded no infections. The overall incidence density of hospital-onset SSIs was 0.18 per 1,000 follow-up days, with significant variations across surgical categories. The accuracy of HDCs in documenting SSIs improved over time, achieving a 97.2% match in 2023. Conclusion. The study highlights an increasing trend in SSI surveillance coverage and accuracy, demonstrating the effectiveness of the SIChER system in monitoring infections. However, variations in infection rates among different procedures suggest the need for targeted strategies, particularly for high-risk surgeries such as colorectal and orthopaedic procedures. © by Pacini Editore Srl, Pisa, Italy.