Postdischarge surgical site infection surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three methods for conducting post-discharge surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance. DESIGN: Patients undergoing in-patient and day-patient surgery were prospectively randomized to one of three surveillance methods: group 1, patient questionnaire (mailed back); group 2, surgeon follow-up card; or group 3, patient questionnaire (telephoned by an infection control practitioner [ICP]). There were 200 in-patients and 200 day-patients randomized to each group. Evaluation of SSI was conducted 30 days postoperatively. SETTING: A 760-bed tertiary care teaching hospital. RESULTS: Questionnaires were sent home with 350 patients. Fifteen in-patients and 35 day-patients were excluded; 15 in-patients and 17 day-patients returned questionnaires early (fewer than three weeks postoperation), leaving 54 of 185 in-patients (29.2%) and 25 of 165 day-patients (15.2%) with timely returns. Seven (three in-patients and four day-patients) reported symptoms of SSI. Surgeons received cards for 400 patients; cards were returned for 118 of 203 in-patients (58.1%) and 142 of 197 day-patients (72.1%). Twelve (seven in-patients and five day-patients) were reported to have developed SSI. ICPS telephoned 332 patients; 187 of 196 in-patients (95.4%) and 107 of 126 day-patients (84.9%) were reached in six or fewer attempts. Four in-patients and 74 day-patients were lost due to cancellation of surgery or no surgical incision. Fourteen (10 in-patients and four day-patients) reported symptoms of SSI. For group 1 patients, ICPS spent 17 h distributing questionnaires and instructing staff; for group 2, ICPs spent no time distributing material; and for group 3, ICPS spent at least 8 h completing data forms, 16.5 h on the telephone and 33 h conducting demographic data retrieval from the hospital computer. CONCLUSIONS: In this setting, surgeon follow-up cards were the most efficient and reliable method for conducting postdischarge SSI surveillance. They provided a good rate of return and were time efficient, and wound evaluation was done by trained professionals using standard criteria for diagnosis of postoperative SSI.