Risk factors for surgical-site infections after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a study in China

BACKGROUND: About 10% of patients get a surgical-site infection (SSI) after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, but SSI remains controversial among surgeons. The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors for SSIs after radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer to guide clinical therapies and reduce the incidence of SSI. METHODS: The study was a retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. SSI was defined in accordance with the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. We evaluated patient-related and peri-operative variables that could be risk factors for SSIs. The Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between these risk factors and SSI. RESULTS: Among the 590 patients, 386 were men and 204 were women. The mean age was 56.6 (28–82) years and 14.2% (84/590) of these patients had an SSI. Among them, incisional SSI was observed in 23 patients (3.9%) and organ/space SSI in 61 patients (10.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified sex (odds ratios [ORs] = 2.548, and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.268–5.122, P = 0.009), total gastrectomy (OR = 2.327, 95% CI: 1.352–4.004, P = 0.002), albumin level (day 3 after surgery) <30 g/L (OR = 1.868, 95% CI: 1.066–3.274, P = 0.029), and post-operative total parenteral nutrition (OR = 2.318, 95% CI: 1.026–5.237, P = 0.043) as independent risk factors for SSI. CONCLUSIONS: SSI was common among patients after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The method supporting post-operative nutrition and the duration of prophylactic antibiotics may be important modifiable influencing factors for SSI.