Implementing a surgical care bundle in abdominal surgery; single center study

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain among the most common and preventable post-operative complications, contributing significantly to morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare costs. Bundled perioperative interventions have shown promise in minimizing SSI incidence. Aims and Objectives: This study evaluates the effect of introducing a standardized surgical care bundle on SSI rates in elective abdominal surgeries. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, observational cohort study conducted between March 2018 and March 2025. A total of 368 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were included and divided into two cohorts: Group A (Pre-bundle, n=174) from March 2018 to March 2021, and Group B (Post-bundle, n=194) from April 2021 to March 2025. The surgical care bundle was introduced in April 2021 and consisted of structured pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative infection-prevention measures. The primary outcome was SSI within 30 days of surgery; secondary outcomes included hospital stay and readmissions. Results: Baseline demographics were comparable between cohorts. The overall SSI rate was 4.6%, but with a marked difference between groups: 10.2% in Group A versus 1.3% in Group B (P<0.001), representing an 87% relative reduction. All post-bundle SSIs were superficial and managed conservatively. The median hospital stay was 6 days, with no significant difference between cohorts. Two patients in Group A required readmission for SSI management, while none were readmitted in Group B. Conclusion: Implementation of a multidisciplinary surgical care bundle resulted in a significant reduction in SSIs in abdominal surgeries. These findings highlight the effectiveness of systematic preventive measures in improving surgical outcomes and patient safety.