Prevalence and Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infections Following Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Single-Centre Study from Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

Purpose Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common after gastrointestinal surgery and contribute to morbidity, prolonged hospitalisation, and increased costs. This study aimed to evaluate SSI prevalence and risk factors at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, and compare results with European benchmarks. Methods A prospective cross-sectional audit was conducted in the Department of General Surgery between October and November 2023. Patients ≥ 16 years undergoing gastrointestinal surgery lasting > 2 h were eligible. Demographics, comorbidities, operative details, and SSI outcomes were collected. SSIs were diagnosed clinically and confirmed by microbiology when indicated. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, with prevalence compared against UK national SSI data using a Z-test. Results Thirty-four patients (50% male) were included. Median age was 71–80 years (23%). Overall SSI prevalence was 12% (4/34), not significantly different from the UK rate of 9.9% (p = 0.736; 95% CI 0.93–22.59%). All SSIs occurred in elective procedures. Open surgery comprised 71% of operations and was associated with most infections. Frequent comorbidities included malignancy (41%), hypertension (38%), poor glucose control (24%), smoking (18%), and obesity (15%). Conclusion The SSI rate in gastrointestinal surgery at Mater Dei Hospital lies at the higher end of EU benchmarks. Risk factors included comorbidities and open surgical approaches. These findings highlight opportunities for improved infection prevention, especially in elective surgery, and provide a benchmark for Maltese surgical practice.