Abstract

Background and Aims: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are acquired as a result of complications during or after surgery, and they involve the skin and deeper tissues or organs. SSIs are considered a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, as they are a frequent and worrisome part of postoperative recovery. SSIs account for 2% of surgical complications, which is more than 20% of health-care-associated infections. This study aimed to assess the levels of knowledge regarding surgical wound infection among physicians in surgical departments in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study including all surgical consultants, specialists, residents, and medical interns affiliated with the Department of Surgery at all major hospitals in the city of Hail. A valid questionnaire was developed to assess the level of knowledge about SSIs among physicians in the city of Hail. The questionnaire was distributed randomly among the included sample. Data were analyzed on a computer using SPSS version 22.

Results: The levels of knowledge ranged between poor and good, and the total score surprisingly indicates that the participants have fair knowledge.

Conclusions: The overall knowledge about SSIs was fair but insufficient. Therefore, it is recommended that the WHO recommendations be implemented during the preoperative period. The authors emphasize the importance of more training programs for health care professionals. Generally, it is expected to improve knowledge and practices to maintain patient safety after surgeries.

Key words: Awareness, preventive, infections, surgery, surgical site infection