[Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery. Results of a 4-year personal case series]

A prospective study of surgical infections in our Department of Surgery in the years 1986-1989 is reported. 2719 patients entered the study: they represent the total number of patients operated in the above said period (628 urgent and 2091 elective operations). As suggested in 1964 by Altmeier, surgical procedures were classified in four groups according to the potential risk of intraoperative contamination. For every septic complication observed pertinent cultures were performed and responsible pathogens identified. We present our protocol of antibacterial prophylaxis which distinguishes antibiotics given as "ultra short term", "short term", "antibiotic prophylaxis". The results obtained and particularly the total number of infections (3.9%), and the percentage of infections in group 3 (4.6%) and in group 4 (23.1%) procedures validate the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis in these patients. In group 1 and group 2 patients the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis seems very doubtful.