Postoperative wound infection rates: results of prospective statewide surveillance.

The results of a prospective statewide study of postoperative wound infection rates after 19 selected surgical operations are reported. Rates are based on 44,689 operations performed at 38 hospitals from January 1, 1977 through May 31, 1979. The data were collected by review of ward charts and are compared with those of earlier reports. Particularly high rates of infection were found after surgery for perforative appendicitis, colorectal resection, radical neck dissection and leg amputations. These rates should serve as a baseline for future comparisons. The potential value of centralized infection reporting is discussed.