RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Surgical site infections in a tertiary hospital over 10 years JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 971 OP 976 DO 10.15537/smj.2020.9.25347 VO 41 IS 9 A1 Alshammari, Lateefah T. A1 Alkatheer, Sarah A. A1 AlShoaibi, Maymona B. A1 Alomran, Aqdas A. A1 Almulhim, Sharifah N. A1 Aljindan, Reem Y. A1 Aljehani, Yasser M. A1 Alkharsah, Khaled R. YR 2020 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/41/9/971.abstract AB Objectives: To analyze the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs), the type, and the frequency of the commonly-associated microorganisms.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia between December 2018 and June 2019 comprising data from August 2008 to August 2018 from patients with culture-confirmed surgical site infection at a tertiary hospital.Results: Out of 2716 wound infection cases during the study period, a total of 289 patients were diagnosed with SSI. The rate of SSI in the tertiary hospital decreased from 20 per 1000 operations in 2009 to 3.5 per 1000 operations in 2018. A significant decrease in the rate of SSIs was observed in 2014 and 2015 when self-assessment strategies in preparation for the accreditation of the hospital were implemented. A significant shift in the SSI rate from type I and II wounds to type IV wounds was observed coinciding with implementation of accreditation procedures. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed reduced resistance to ceftazidime and tazocin, while Acinetobacter baumannii was resistant to most of the antibiotics over 10 years.Conclusion: This study describes, for the first time, the status of SSI over the past 10 years in Saudi Arabia. The study also demonstrated the effect of hospital accreditation on healthcare organization performance regarding infection control and antibiogram pattern.