Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Povidone Iodine Rectal Preparation at Time of Prostate Needle Biopsy is a Simple and Reproducible Means to Reduce Risk of Procedural Infection
Published on: September 21, 2015
Single versus 3-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in clean and clean contaminated operations
Abdul Rashid Surahio1, Ashar Ahmad Khan, Main Usman Farooq
1Department of General Surgery, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital Holly, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. a_surahio@yahoo.com
Background:
Infection is a great problem in surgery and is encountered by all surgeons by nature of their craft; they invariably impair the first line of host defence. Bacteria may enter the wound during or after the operation and may be of endogenous or exogenous origin. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in reduction of postoperative wound infection in clean and clean contaminated procedures and to compare the cost of antibiotic prophylaxis in both groups.
Method:
This was a prospective study done on patients in General Surgery Department, Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Holly Makkah, Saudi Arabia from 1st April 2006 to 30th March 2007. Total 400 patients were divided into 2 groups of 200 patients each: Group-A received single dose antibiotic prophylaxis, and Group-B received 3 doses of antibiotic therapy. Only clean and clean contaminated procedures were included and results were compared.
Results:
In Group A, clean procedures (Group-Al) were 110, and clean contaminated (Group-A2) were 90 patients. In clean procedure, rate of infection was 5 out of 110 (4.54%) and in clean contaminated procedures it was 3 out of 90 (3.33%). In Group B, in clean procedures (Group-B1), rate of infection was 7 out of 90 (7.77%), while in clean contaminated procedures (Group-B2) it was 9 out of 110 (8.18%) patients. Over all wound infection rate after single dose antibiotic prophylaxis was 4% in both procedures and 8% after 3-dose antibiotic therapy.
Conclusion:
Single dose antibiotic prophylaxis is as effective as 3-dose therapy in clean and clean contaminated procedures to prevent wound infection and is cost-effective.
Insights
Single dose antibiotic prophylaxis is effective for preventing surgical wound infections in clean and clean-contaminated procedures. This approach is as effective as multiple doses and offers cost benefits.
Area of Science:
- Surgical infection prevention
- Antibiotic prophylaxis efficacy
- Healthcare economics in surgery
Background:
- Surgical site infections pose a significant challenge, impairing host defenses.
- Bacterial contamination of surgical wounds can occur intraoperatively or postoperatively.
- Understanding the effectiveness of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is crucial for reducing surgical site infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of single-dose versus multi-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing postoperative wound infections.
- To compare the cost-effectiveness of different antibiotic prophylaxis regimens.
- To analyze infection rates in clean and clean-contaminated surgical procedures.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 400 patients undergoing clean or clean-contaminated procedures.
- Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis) and Group B (three-dose antibiotic therapy).
- Postoperative wound infection rates were compared between the two groups.
Main Results:
- The overall wound infection rate was 4% following single-dose prophylaxis and 8% following three-dose therapy.
- Infection rates for clean procedures were 4.54% (single dose) and 7.77% (three doses).
- Infection rates for clean-contaminated procedures were 3.33% (single dose) and 8.18% (three doses).
Conclusions:
- Single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis is equally effective as three-dose therapy in preventing surgical wound infections for clean and clean-contaminated procedures.
- Single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis demonstrates cost-effectiveness compared to multi-dose regimens.
- Optimizing antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce surgical site infection rates and healthcare costs.
Related Concept Videos
Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...

