Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Infections
Abstract number: 25595
PATIENTS' EXPERIENCES OF ACQUIRING A DEEP SURGICAL SITE
INFECTION
– AN INTERVIEW STUDY
Annette ERICHSEN ANDERSSON 1 , Ingrid BERGH 2 , Jon KARLSSON 3 , Kerstin
NILSSON 4
1 The Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Göteborg
(SWEDEN), 2 University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences, Skövde (SWEDEN),
3 Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics, Mölndal (SWEDEN),
4 The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg (SWEDEN)
Background: The negative impact of surgical site infection (SSI) in terms of morbidity,
mortality, additional costs and LOS is well described in the literature, together with
risk factors and preventivemeasures. As there is a lack of knowledge regarding
patients’ experiences of SSI, the aim of thisstudy was to describe patients’
experiences of acquiring a deep SSI. Methods: Content analysis was used to analyze
data obtained from 14 open interviews withparticipants diagnosed with a deep
SSI.Results: Patients acquiring a deep SSI suffer significantly from pain, isolation
and insecurity. Theinfection changes physical, emotional, social and economic
aspects of life in an extremely negativeway and these changes are often persistent.
Conclusions: Healthcare professionals should focus on strategies to enable early
diagnosis andtreatment. The unacceptable suffering related to the infection, the
medical treatment and aninsufficient patient-professional relationship should be
addressed when planning individual care, asevery effort is needed to support this
group of patients and minimize their distress. Every possiblemeasure should be
taken to avoid the bacterial contamination of the surgical wound during and
aftersurgery to prevent the development of SSI.
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