[Effect of age on the incidence of postoperative wound infections].

The incidence of postoperative wound infections was found to grow in dependence on age, because of higher incidence in advanced age of accompanying disorders. Follow-up checks were made on 661 patients without such accompanying disorders, and evidence was produced to the effect that physiological ageing alone had no impact on postoperative wound infection rates. Age-related physiological changes are discussed in some detail.