Introduction. Surgical site infections of the postoperative period are well recognized as one of the most pressing issues in modern surgery. Surgical site infections significantly complicate the postoperative course, necessitates costly treatment, and may require additional surgical interventions, thereby extending hospital stays and adversely impacting quality of life of the patients. The suture material can facilitate the adhesion of microorganisms to its surface; thus, it is considered as one of the important factors contributing to the development of surgical site infections.Aim. To evaluate and compare the clinical experience of applying the Abaktolat suture material featuring an antimicrobial coating used during surgical interventions.Materials and methods. A retrospective randomized study was conducted involving 49287 patients who were treated across five various medical institutions primarily for abdominal pathologies. The Abaktolat suture material was applied in 25749 patients, of whom 15626 (60.7%) underwent emergency surgeries, while 10123 (39.3%) underwent elective procedures. The second group included 23538 patients who received standard suture material.Results and discussion. The study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative infectious complications during emergency surgeries by more than four times (RR 4.23, 95% CI (4.08–4.96), p < 0.0001), and almost by two times during elective surgeries (RR 1.96, 95% CI (1.62–2.37), p < 0.0001) in the group that received Abaktolat, compared to those receiving standard suture materials. In addition, the average length of hospital stay was reduced by 21.6% (2.6 days).Conclusion. Thus, the use of the Abaktolat suture material is a justified method for the prevention of surgical site infections, particularly in emergency surgery settings. This approach significantly reduces the incidence of infectious complications during the postoperative period, enhances the overall quality of recovery, and leads to substantial financial savings in the treatment of surgical patients.
