An academic study of the investigation of digital biomarkers for early detection of surgical site infections

Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for 20% of the estimated two million nosocomial infections. Although the global estimates of SSI are diverse, studies in India have consistently shown higher rates ranging from 23% to 38%. The incidence of SSI is as high as 15-25% after an abdominal surgery as compared to other surgeries and is largely dependent on the level of contamination during surgery. Suchitra et al conducted a prospective study in India and observed that surgeries such as gastrectomy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy and appendectomy were associated with a higher risk of SSI. Jacobs et al reported a 30-day readmission of 22% for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, with 47% of readmissions occurring within 1 week of discharge.As the symptoms and signs of SSIs mimic ‘normal’ recovery, they are detected usually after the infection is firmly established. This leads to complications such as, the need for re-entry of the wound; when severe, this can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death. The prevalence of SSI is often underestimated because SSIs frequently present after the patient is discharged. We hypothesize that the early warning risk scores calculated using the novel medical device is linked to the pathobiology of wound healing and will be predictive of SSIs in patients who have undergone elective or emergency laparotomy or gastrointestinal surgery for benign or malignant disease.