Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40598596›Full record

ArticleAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2025

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical site infections: a multi-center study evaluating incidence, pathogen distribution, and antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Şiran Keske, Elif Sargın Altunok, Emel Azak, Ezgi Gülten, Tuğba Arslan Gülen, Çiğdem Ataman Hatipoğlu, Ali Asan, Derya Korkmaz, Bahar Kaçmaz, Yeşim Kızmaz and 15 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

25 authors.

Şiran KeskeInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Koç University School of Medicine, Davutpaşa Cd. No: 4, Zeytinburnu/Istanbul, 34010, Türkiye. skeske@ku.edu.tr.ORCID 0000-0003-3823-4454
Elif Sargın AltunokInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Emel AzakFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Türkiye.
Ezgi GültenInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye.
Tuğba Arslan GülenInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Türkiye.
Çiğdem Ataman HatipoğluInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye.
Ali AsanInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Türkiye.
Derya KorkmazFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Türkiye.
Bahar KaçmazInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, VKV American Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Yeşim KızmazInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Koşuyolu High Specialization Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Ayşe BatırelInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Fethiye AkgülInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Batman Training and Research Hospital, Batman, Türkiye.
Derya YaparFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hitit University, Çorum, Türkiye.
Zehra Çağla KarakoçFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istinye University, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Ayşe Serra ÖzelInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Tuğba Yanık YalçınFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Baskent University, Ankara, Türkiye.
Deniz ÖzerFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Türkiye.
Özge Eren KorkmazEpidemiology, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye.
Ahmet ŞahinInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gaziantep Dr. Ersin Arslan Training and Research Hospital, Gaziantep, Türkiye.
Muhammed Fatih KaraşınFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Türkiye.
Tuba TurunçInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Türkiye.
Mehtap AydınInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Neşe DemirtürkFaculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyon, Türkiye.
Alpay AzapInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye.
Önder ErgönülInfectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Koç University School of Medicine, Davutpaşa Cd. No: 4, Zeytinburnu/Istanbul, 34010, Türkiye.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSurgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most significant concerns in healthcare settings, presenting challenges in patient management and healthcare outcomes. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the landscape of infectious disease epidemiology, impacting the distribution and resistance characteristics of pathogens responsible for SSIs. Understanding these dynamics is essential for improving infection prevention and treatment strategies.

methodsThis retrospective multi-center study included 17 hospitals in Turkey, analyzing SSI cases from January 2019 to January 2023. The study was divided into three phases: pre-pandemic (January 2019 - March 2020), early pandemic (March 2020 - January 2022), and late pandemic (January 2022 - January 2023). We assessed demographic and clinical characteristics, pathogen distributions, and resistance rates, focusing on multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens.

resultsA total of 2,058 patients with SSIs were included. The SSI rate increased from 0.79% in 2019 to 0.87% in 2020, then decreased to 0.46% in 2021 and 0.50% in 2022. The most prevalent pathogens were E. coli (21.9%) and K. pneumoniae (14.6%). Resistance to meropenem in K. pneumoniae rose from 23% pre-pandemic to 33% post-pandemic, while ceftazidime-avibactam resistance surged from 6 to 43%. P. aeruginosa showed increased quinolone resistance from 18 to 27%, with colistin resistance rising to 13% in the late pandemic phase.

conclusionsThis study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SSIs in Turkey, revealing concerning trends in antibiotic resistance among key pathogens. Ongoing surveillance and enhanced infection control measures are essential to address these challenges and improve patient outcomes in the post-pandemic era.

Indexed as

COVID-19Surgical Wound InfectionAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnti-Bacterial AgentsDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2TurkeyAnti-Bacterial Agents

Identifiers

PMID40598596
PMCPMC12217381

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.