Surgical site infections (SSI) represent the most common type of nosocomial infection amongst surgical patients. They cause morbidity and mortality.~Surgical Drains are commonly inserted at the end of many surgical procedures. In contrast to potential benefits, drains are also thought to potentially serve as a conduit of bacteria into the wound and hence may increase the risk of SSI. Patterns of use of drains vary widely across surgical disciplines and individual practices. There are no uniform guidelines and standards are often rather based on tradition than on evidence. The aim of this large prospective study was to examine the association of presence, duration, type, number and location of drains with the risk of SSI in a contemporary and multicentric cohort of general, orthopedic trauma and vascular surgery procedures.
This prospective observational study examines the associations of presence, duration, type, number and location of surgical drains with the risk of surgical site infections in a contemporary and multicentric cohort of general, orthopedic trauma and vascular surgery procedures.