ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS – IS IT NECESSARY IN CLEAN GENERAL SURGERY

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the use of prophylactic antibiotics in reducing wound infection in clean elective general surgical operations with no use of prophylactic antibiotics in these operations.
Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Place and duration of study: Six months study from January 2007 to June 2007 conducted at surgical department of Combined Military Hospital Peshawar.
Patients and Method: One hundred and twenty patients were included in the study and divided into two groups A and B. Group A received prophylactic antibiotics and Group B did not both groups were compared for post operative wound infection.
Result: In Group A, one patient (1.6%) developed infection and in Group B, four patients (6.6%) developed infections. The results were not statistically significant by Chi-Square test (P > 0.5).
Conclusion: Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended routinely in clean general surgical operations.