The control of postoperative infection in general surgery.

The results of a prospective study of infection control carried out in the Division of Abdominal Surgery of the Federal University of Pernambuco over a two year period are presented. A total of 760 patients operated on by the various teams of the Division were studied and rates of wound, respiratory and urinary infection were analyzed together with their relationship to the types of surgery performed. The etiology and antibiotic sensitivity of the main etiologic agents are also presented, plus a comparison of the results obtained with data found in the literature.