Abstract

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common postoperative complications. In Vietnam, approximately 2 million patients undergo surgery annually, with the incidence of SSI remaining relatively high, ranging from 5% to 10%. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with SSI and identify associated factors at the Department of Traumatology, Hue Central Hospital, in 2025.

Methods: A prospective observational, descriptive study with analytical components was conducted among 525 patients undergoing surgery at the Department of Traumatology, Hue Central Hospital, from August 2025 to November 2025. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: SSI occurred in 15 of 525 patients (2.86%). The mean age of the study participants was 47.62 ± 23.19 years; the majority were aged <60 years (67.8%) and male (57.3%). Surgery duration ≥120 minutes, contaminated/dirty wounds, and non-adherence to antibiotic use were associated with an increased risk of SSI. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated pathogen, accounting for 40.0% of cases.

Conclusion: The incidence of SSI remains noteworthy. Optimizing surgical procedures, appropriately reducing operative time, strengthening SSI surveillance, and ensuring appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics may contribute to reducing the risk of SSI.