Nasal carriage of staphylococcus aureus is a major risk factor for surgical-site infections in orthopedic surgery: A review

Abstract

Surgical site infection is the greatest enemy to the success of a surgeon which is a dreaded complication that can result in poor outcomes, increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, escalation of hospital expenditure and mainly constrained relationship between the patient and the surgeon, placing an immense economic burden on the patient and the healthcare infrastructure. The origin of SSI is multifactorial, where Bacteria may get access to the surgical site through both endogenous and exogenous routes, predominantly exogenous contact during the first operative exposure. Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of SSI.  Implants give a niche for such organisms where biofilms offer a safe environment for their replication. Various modifiable risk factors are also there such as DM, Obesity, Malnutrition etc. The goal of this study was to find out whether nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a major risk factor for surgical site infection in orthopaedic surgery.