Epidemiology of postoperative spinal wound infection in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

• Published in: North American Spine Society journal (NASSJ) 2023-06, Vol.14, p.100222-100222, Article 100222
• Main Authors: Abolfotouh, Sameh M, Khattab, Mohamed, Zaman, Atiq Uz, Alnori, Omar, Zakout, Alaa, Konbaz, Faisal, Hewala, Tarek El, Hassan, Ghazwan, Eissa, Sami Al, Abolfotouh, Mostafa A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical Studies; Complications; Degenerative; Incidence; Instrumentation; Risk factors; Spine; Surgical-site infection; Traumatic; Treatment
• ISSN: 2666-5484; 2666-5484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2023.100222

Despite the extensive literature on postoperative spinal wound infection, yet to our knowledge, there is no previous study containing combined data from several sites in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) following spine surgeries, its associated factors, and management. In a retrospective cohort study, medical records of all patients ≥18 years of age who underwent spine surgery at 6 tertiary referral centers in the MENA region between January 2014 to December 2019 (n=5,872) were examined to collect data on the following: (1) Patient's characteristics, (2) Disease characteristics, (3) Spine surgery approach, and (4) Characteristics of Postoperative SSI. The determinants of postoperative SSI were identified using logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to identify the cut-off of the length of stay in the hospital postoperatively till the infection is likely to occur. Significance was set at p