[Do abuse of nicotine and alcohol have an effect on the incidence of postoperative bacterial infections?].

In a prospective study we evaluated patients with the diagnosis of 1. groin hernia (n1 = 57), 2. gall bladder stones (n2 = 80) and 3. carcinoma of the colon (n3 = 76). The whole group included 213 patients who underwent clean, clean-contaminated or contaminated operations. All wound infections and post-operative bacterial infections like pneumonia or urinal infection were registered. The patients were asked for risk factors at the time of hospitalisation. 7.1% of all patients admitted an intake of alcohol of more than 60 g/day and 15.6% of the patients smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day. We found a four times higher risk to get a postoperative infection for patients with an intake of more than 60 g alcohol a day. The rate of infection for smokers of more than 20 cigarettes a day is two times higher than for non smokers or persons who smoke less than 20 cigarettes a day.