Incidence and risk factors of postoperative wound infections after dermatological surgery

In this research the parameters wound infection in the ErasmusMC during dermatological surgery is evaluated. Wound infections are a relative common complication of any dermatologic surgery. The incidence not well investigated and is varying a lot in the literature. Furthermore there is no real consensus in prescribing prophylactic antibiotics for surgical procedures. Methods: In the period from 28th of August 2006 until 31th January 2007 we included 171 patients for 225 dermato-surgical procedures for different skin lesions. Pre-, per- and postoperative information is obtained prospective by a questionnaire. Wound infections were diagnosed by a physician. Results: From 225 operated lesions eleven patients developed a wound infection (4,89%). Suspected risk factors like diabetes, use of immunosuppressant's, anticoagulants and smoking were not found to be significant. We found more wound infections on the hands, but due to the small group it is difficult to find any significance. Mohs micrografic surgery were not found to have an increased risk of wound infection. Conclusion: The percentage of postoperative wound infections in the department of Dermatology of the Erasmus MC was 4,9%. This is average according to the literature. In our Group we found a bigger percentage of wound infections on the hand.