Body Mass Index: A Key Factor in Surgical Site Infections After Kidney Transplantation?

Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) due to procedural complexity and immunosuppression. This retrospective single-centre study examines the influence of BMI on SSI risk and identifies common pathogens. A total of 230 renal transplant patients were included in this analysis 2017 and 2019. All patients received a cephalosporin for prophylaxis, and wound swabs were taken from those who developed SSIs. SSIs occurred in 45 patients (19.6%) and were not significantly associated with age, sex or donor type. The most common organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (26.7%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (24.4%), Enterococcus faecalis (22.2%) and Candida albicans (22.2%). SSIs were significantly linked to surgical revision (p 28.1. Therefore, SSIs are a frequent complication posttransplant and are strongly associated with high BMI. Standard antibiotic regimens may not cover all relevant pathogens in obese patients, underscoring the need for tailored prophylactic strategies.