Summary:
Background: Surgical site infections causes significant
morbidity and mortality of patients and causes more difficult
to treat if unexpected cause behind the infection like
tuberculosis. Delayed surgical site infection after initial
healing are uncomfortable for both surgeons and patient.
Methods: Wound tissue from 18 patients with delayed
surgical site infection not responding to antibiotics used
for pyogenic infection were collected and examined
histopathologically.
Results: Of the 18 patients, 9 revealed histologically
tuberculosis, 7 non-specific chronic inflammation and
others showed foreign body granulomma. Association
between histopathological report and incidence of
tuberculosis is significant (p<0.001) and association between
onset of infection and incidence of tuberculosis also
significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: A high degree of suspicion is required in case
of delayed or recurrent surgical site infection to diagnose
tuberculosis as a cause.
Keyword: Surgical site infection, tuberculosis, wound,
granulomma.