Aim: Hypoalbuminaemia is predictive of surgical site infection, while CRP is an established marker of an acute inflammatory process. Ranzani et al. demonstrated that CRP/albumin ratio acts as an independent risk factor for mortality at 90 days in septic patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether CRP/albumin ratio at 24 hours post-operatively was predictive of surgical site infection. Methods: A propsectively maintained surgical site infection database with nurse led 30 day follow up

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... was retrospectively analysed to determine the predictive value of CRP/Albumin ratio at 24 hours post-operatively on surgical site infection. Only patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery were included, and who had pre op, 24 and 48-hour Albumin and CRP values. Fischers exact test was used for statistical analysis using SPSS 20. Results: 67 patients were included in the study period, who underwent emergency abdominal surgery from 2010e2012. Thirty patients had a 24 hour post-operative CRP/Albumin ratio of ten or greater. CRP/Albumin ratio of 10 or greater is associated with an increased risk of SSI compared to 9 or less in emergency abdominal surgery (69% SSI rate versus 33%, p < 0.004). Conclusion: CRP/Albumin ratio is predictive of surgical site infection in abdominal surgery.