Surgical Site Infection Rates in Breast Cancer Surgery at a University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Nyaoncha A, Wasike R, Ahmed M and Njihia B

Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Kenya
Department of Surgery Aga Khan University Hospital, Tanzania

^*Correspondance to: Andrew Nyaoncha 

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Abstract:

Background: Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for breast cancer and with it the attendant risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Breast cancer surgery, though classified as a clean procedure presents with a relatively higher rate of infection than similar operations and it remains unclear whether extended antibiotic regimes improve this outcome. This study sought to evaluate SSIs using validated detection protocols.
Methods: A prospective surveillance study for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery using the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system.
Results: Sixty nine patients who underwent breast cancer related surgery at Aga Khan University Hospital-Nairobi were recruited over the period from September 2013 to April 2014, with 2 lost to follow-up. Six percent (n=4) of patients developed SSI, with 1 case of CDC Class I, and 3 cases CDC Class II. Various risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, age >65 years and prolonged drain duration were noted to be important contributors increasing the risk of SSI development. Only one patient required operative management of their infection.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the successful introduction of an SSI surveillance protocol at a tertiary facility with an subsequent infection rate lower than reported in other studies that utilize only pre-operative antibiotics. We recommend a randomized controlled trial to compare outcomes between pre-operative only and pre- plus post-operative antibiotic use in order to explore this further.

Keywords:

Infection; Breast Surgery; Antibiotic; Prophylaxis

Cite the Article:

Nyaoncha A, Wasike R, Ahmed M, Njihia B. Surgical Site Infection Rates in Breast Cancer Surgery at a University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Clin Oncol. 2016; 1: 1069.