Intra-abdominal infection in patients with abdominal trauma.

Hypothesis: Identifying patients with risk factors associated with the development of intra-abdominal infections makes possible early interventions to minimize morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the incidence of intra-abdominal infection (organ/space surgical site infection) in patients undergoing operation because of abdominal trauma, to identify the risk factors associated with the development of this complication, and to estimate the respective magnitudes of the risk factors.

Design: We performed a prospective cohort study in patients older than 12 years who were treated surgically for penetrating or blunt abdominal trauma, with or without other associated lesions.