A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ILLUSTRATING THE INCIDENCE AND PATTERN OF INFECTION RATE IN ELECTIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES AMONG DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr. Basit Cheema*

Objective: To compare the incidence and pattern of infection rate in elective surgical procedures among diabetic and non-diabetic patients in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Relative cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July 2022 to December 2022. Patients and Methods: This study had 80 patients, comprising 40 diabetics (group A) and 40 non-diabetics (group B), who were scheduled for elective surgery. Individuals in both groups were monitored 4 weeks post-surgery to assess for the existence of postoperative infection, and the responsible organism was reported. The data was evaluated using SPSS version 22. Results: In our study, mean age of our participants was 45.51 ± 9.77 years. 47 (58.75%) participants were men while 33 (41.25%) were women. Median HbA1C% was 6.20% (4.10% – 8.60%). Difference amongst groups regarding mean age (p < 0.001) and median HbA1C% (p < 0.001) was statistically important while in terms of gender distribution (p = 0.820) and mean BMI (p = 0.241) was insignificant statistically. In diabetics, incidence of post-operative infection was 18 (45.00%) while in non-diabetics it was 9 (22.50%), (p = 0.033). “Staphylococcus aureus” and “Acinetobacter” were most commonly isolated organisms. Conclusion: Diabetics have a significantly greater likelihood of developing a postoperative infection.