Obesity as a Risk Factor for Nosocomial Infections in Trauma Patients

BACKGROUND: Obesity, like multiple trauma, is associated with an inflammatory condition that leads to an immunodeficient state. Obese trauma patients are thus thought to be at higher risk of infection compared to patients of normal body mass. Despite this risk, studies to date have not defined obesity as an independent risk factor for infection in trauma patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data were collected on 1,024 patients admitted to a …