GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3559
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21ST MARCH, 2025
INFECTION RATE AT SURGICAL SITE IN HOSPITALS
†3559. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether as per the study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, infection rate at surgical site in the hospitals of the country is very high as compared to the other countries of the world and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has any concrete action plan to reduce the surgical infection in the country keeping in view the severe impact of surgical infection on human life and increasing cost of treatment, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to issue specific directions and guidelines to States to reduce surgical infection and if so, the details thereof along with time period by which it is likely to be completed, if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that as per a study funded by it at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and Kasturba Hospital (KMC), Manipal, the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) was 5.2 per cent. The independent risk factors for developing an SSI were duration of surgery, wound class, surgeons’ grade, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, risk index, and surveillance period. However, according to the 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) report on the global burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), the pooled incidence of SSI episodes in LMICs is 11.8 per 100 surgical procedures.
(b) and (c): National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has informed that the National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities were formulated and released in 2020, which serve as a resource for guiding development of IEC materials, facility specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies for all levels of healthcare staff in hospitals including in different States and Union Territories. The guidelines can be accessed at
https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wpcontent/uploads/2024/09/NGIPC.pdf.
The following sections of IPC guidelines are specifically relevant for prevention of Surgical Site Infections:
i. IPC in surgical units – The guidelines recommend that Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC) in healthcare facilities should develop aseptic protocols to control SSIs such as hand/forearm antisepsis, scrubs maintenance, use of surgical attire and preparation of sterile field to prevent contamination of surgical site. The general principles for cleaning and disinfecting Operation Theatres (OTs) and procedures for preparing OTs for surgeries should be followed. The document also provides information for the recommended infrastructure and the concept of zoning in OTs to ensure cleanliness and sterility.
ii. Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and their surveillance – The guidelines recommend preoperative, intraoperative and post-operative interventions for the prevention of SSIs and
advice following up of operated patients for at least 30 days after the procedure. These guidelines have been translated to a standardized training curriculum which has been used to conduct National training of trainers for all States and Union Territories (UTs). Further, the National Patient Safety Secretariat under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has informed that multiple initiatives have been undertaken to actively address the issue. These include Implementation of a National Capacity-building program to train healthcare professionals across the country and also organization of regular webinars to sensitize medical colleges and hospitals in different States and Union Territories, on various patient safety issues, including surgical site infection prevention.