Desta KassuAli Abdurrahman2018-06-242023-11-062018-06-242023-11-062017-03http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/3010Background: Surgical wound infection is a prototype of (Hospital Acquired Infection) HAIand constitutes a serious problem. Patients diagnosed with Surgical Site Infection (SSI) face a 2to 11 times increased in mortality along with prolonged hospital stays, treatment associated risks,culture confirmed SSI was 12.1 %. More than half of the bacteria isolated were gram negativerods. About 79.2 % of all the isolates were Multi Drug Resistant (MDR). About 66.67 % and 100% of E. coli and K. pneumonia were Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producersrespectively. In this study, 55.6 % of the Syaphylococcus species were methicilin resistant(MRSA). Hypertension, ASA score-3, elective surgery and the age group 35-44 years were foundto be statistically significant associated factors for SSIs. A more than two times increase of thecost and length of hospital stay was observed as a result of SSI in Dessie Referal Hospital. Conclusion and recommendation: the rate of SSI, MDR, MRSA and ESBL producing bacteriawas very high among patients with SSI. A hospital based survey should be conducted on aregular basis, evidence based information should be given to the surgical team in order to reducethe rate of SSIs and the use of some drugs should be limited due to a high degree of resistance. Key terms: SSI, predisposing factors, drug susceptibility, costpain, suffering, delayed wound healing, revision of surgery, and potential long-term sequelae.The burdens posed by SSIs are also reflected in excess of health care costs. Advances in controlof infections have not completely eradicated the problem because of development of resistance.There are very limited data in relation to this agenda particularly cost associated with SSI inEthiopia as well as Africa. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of surgical site infection,predisposing factors and associated costs at Dessie Referral Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from July 22 – October 25,2016 in Dessie referral hospital. About 338 surgical patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteriawere included using consecutive convenient sampling technique. Information regarding socio-demographic status and past medical history of the respondent was collected using pre-structured questionnaire. Two pus swabs were taken when a patient was first presented with clinicalevidence of infection. One of the swabs was processed for microscopic examination the otherone was inoculated to MacConkey agar, Blood agar and Manitol salt agar following a standardoperating procedure. Colony characteristics, Gram’s reaction and biochemical tests were used to differentiate the organisms. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria was determined byKirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique, following CLSI guideline (CLSI document M100-S24).The data was analyzed by SPSS version 20 and the results were presented by using tables anddifferent graphs. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association betweendependent and independent variables. Results: out of the 338 patients included in this study 49 (14.5 %) were clinically suspected forSSIs. Forty one out of the 49 (83.7 %) wound swabs were culture positive; hence the overallenSSI; Predisposing factors; Drug susceptibility; CostThesis