Microbiology testing capacity and antimicrobial drug resistance in surgical-site infections

The Lancet Global Health | September 2024

Surgical-site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAI) globally, and the most frequent postoperative complication.

A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals alarming findings regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and SSI rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The research analyzed data from 5,788 patients across seven countries as part of the FALCON controlled trial and found that 69.4% of those with SSIs were infected by multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, with only 44.6% of non-MDR infections covered by prophylactic antibiotics. These results emphasize the urgent need for enhanced microbiological testing capacity, implementation of local guidelines, and activation of infection control teams to prevent SSIs and reduce the burden of resistant pathogens in resource-limited settings.