Abstract

Six hundred twenty orthopedic surgery patients were evaluated in a prospective study of postoperative infection. The wound infection rate among the 378 elective clean procedures was 5.8% (3.2% major plus 2.6% minor infections). Staphylococcus aureus was the single most common pathogen recovered in both major and minor infections. Gram-negative rods predominated in major infections, but were rarely found in minor infections. In the clean procedure group, infection rates increased with age and duration of operation. Preoperative consideration should be given to all factors which may influence the development of postoperative infection. A “profile sheet” or checklist of several such factors is presented for this purpose.