Associations Between Social Risk Factors and Surgical Site Infections After Colectomy and Abdominal Hysterectomy

Key Points Question Are social risk factors, including race/ethnicity, insurance status, and neighborhood income, associated with higher rates of surgical site infection (SSI) after colectomy or abdominal hysterectomy, 2 surgical procedures for which SSI rates are publicly reported and included in pay-for-performance programs nationally? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 149 741 participants, Medicaid insurance status (a marker for poverty) and living in a low-income zip code were associated with higher SSI rates after colectomy, even after adjusting for clinical risk. For hysterectomy, no social risk factors that were examined in this study had statistically significant associations with SSI after adjustment for clinical risk. Meaning For colectomy, infection prevention programs targeting low-income groups may be important for reducing disparities, and policy makers could consider taking social risk into account when evaluating hospital performance.