Assessment of Veterinary Surgeon Compliance with Sterile Surgical Technique in Selected Hospitals in Borno State

Adherence to sterile surgical technique is fundamental to preventing surgical site infections and ensuring patient safety in veterinary surgical practice. This study assesses the level of compliance with sterile surgical technique standards among veterinary surgeons at selected hospitals in Borno State, North East Nigeria, between February and November 2023. A prospective observational study design was employed, during which 76 surgical procedures were directly observed and assessed using a standardized 22-item sterile technique compliance checklist adapted from international veterinary surgical standards. Structured interviews were conducted with 28 veterinary surgeons regarding training background and sterile technique knowledge. Overall mean compliance score was 61.4%, indicating moderate but inadequate adherence to sterile surgical standards. The lowest compliance scores were observed in items related to sterile draping technique (41%), glove changing after contamination (38%), and traffic control in the operating theater (29%). Compliance was significantly higher among surgeons with postgraduate training and those working at university-affiliated hospitals. Surgical site infection rates correlated inversely with compliance scores across monitored cases. The most commonly cited barriers to full compliance were shortage of sterile supplies, time pressure, and inadequate training reinforcement. The study recommends mandatory structured sterile technique training for all veterinary surgical staff in Borno State, regular compliance audits as part of hospital quality assurance systems, and sustained investment in sterile surgical supply chains across North Eastern Nigerian veterinary hospitals. Keywords: sterile technique, surgical compliance, veterinary surgery, Borno State, infection prevention.