PURPOSE: to relate risk factors for mortality in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery with surgical site infection. METHOD: it is a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional retrospective study, performed in teaching hospital in Curitiba-PR. The sample period was from January 1999 to December 2008. Data were collected through structured instrument in secondary sources: Registration Service Infection Control and the patient's chart. A sample consisted of records of 114 elderly patients with surgical site infection. Variables were investigated classified into three categories: clinical, surgical hospitalization and surgical procedures among the elderly. Data were analyzed using Epi Info version 6.04 and were considered statistically significant when p <0,05. RESULTS: life habits and preexisting conditions were not significantly associated with mortality. It is inferred that the longer hospitalization, surgical site infection in the cavity, the combination of two or more surgeries and emergency surgery were significantly related to mortality risk. The readmission of elderly related the significant values for discharge. CONCLUSION: knowing the factors that influence the progression to death of these patients allows nurses to extend the possibilities of managing the geriatric care and intervene in risk factors for mortality.
Aged; Surgical wound infection; Mortality