AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TRACKING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AND SURGICAL SITE INFECTION (SSI) INCIDENCE IN ORTHOPEDIC PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
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Keywords
Surgical Site Infection, Orthopedic Surgery, Socioeconomic Status, Retrospective Study, India, Kuppuswamy Scale, Hospital-Acquired Infections, Public Health, Wound Care
Abstract
: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) remain a significant cause of postoperative morbidity, particularly in orthopedic procedures where implants and extended wound healing time increase infection risk. Socioeconomic status (SES) has been suggested as a potential determinant of SSI occurrence, but limited data exists from India quantifying this association.
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the incidence of SSIs among orthopedic patients in a tertiary care hospital setting in India.
Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, over a 12-month period from April 2024 to April 2025. Medical records of 44 orthopedic patients who underwent surgical procedures were reviewed. Data were collected on demographic details, socioeconomic classification (Modified Kuppuswamy Scale), comorbidities, hygiene practices, surgical details, and microbiological findings from SSI cases. Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between socioeconomic variables and SSI incidence.
Results: The overall SSI incidence was 25%. Patients from lower socioeconomic classes exhibited significantly higher SSI rates, with 50% of infections occurring in the lower class group (p<0.05). Poor hygiene conditions, delayed follow-up, and inadequate wound care were more prevalent in the lower SES groups. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism from infected wounds. Comparative analysis with existing literature confirmed similar trends in infection susceptibility among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Conclusion: Socioeconomic status is a significant predictor of surgical site infection in orthopedic patients. The findings underline the importance of incorporating SES-based risk stratification and targeted perioperative interventions to reduce the burden of SSIs, especially in low-resource settings.
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Shubham Srivastava
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India,
Rajesh Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College, Mirzapur, U.P., India,
Kanupriya Tiwari
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India,