PubMed · 1987 · 61 citations · 0 references
MedicinePerioperative MedicineSurgeryGeneral SurgeryInfection PreventionPerioperative Infection PreventionAntibiotic ProphylaxisAntimicrobial ProphylaxisColorectal SurgerySurgical ProphylaxisSurgical Site InfectionWound InfectionAbdominal Wound ManagementAntibiotic Prophylaxis In SurgeryInfection Prevention After SurgeryInfection Rate MeasurementPostoperative Infectious ComplicationsPostoperative Surgical Site InfectionPostoperative Wound ManagementWound Infection Assessment
In a prospective study of 189 colorectal operations, the subcutaneous fat layer in the abdominal incisional wound was measured for correlation with wound infection. The infection rate was 20% when the fat layer was greater than or equal to 3.5 cm and 6.8% when the thickness was less than or equal to 3 cm (statistically significant difference). This c. threefold rise indicates that in obese patients special attention should be directed to antibiotic and other prophylaxis against incisional infection.