Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second most common nosocomial infections after
urinary tract infections. A study at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital (HRRH) found that 18.9%
of patients developed SSIs, with the majority having undergone emergency surgeries. The
majority were aged 30-59, males, married, with secondary education, and Anglicans.
Symptoms were common for 3-7 days, with HIV as a co-morbidity, BMI 18.5-29.9, nonsmokers,
and did not take alcohol. Intra-operatively, most patients underwent general
anesthesia, had dirty wounds, and had operations lasting 1 hour or less. The incidence rate
of SSIs at HRRH is the highest in the country, with patients' factors and intra-operative events
being associated with the development of SSIs. This highlights the need for facility-based
and national target-specific interventions to curb and control this nosocomial infection.