Intranasal Septal Splints: Prophylactic Antibiotics and Nasal Microbiology

Intranasal septal splints are often used in nasal septal surgeries. Routine use of postoperative antibiotics is an accepted practice, although data regarding its efficacy in preventing postsurgical complications are limited. This study aimed to examine bacterial colonization on septal splints following prophylactic antibiotic therapy and the association with postoperative infections.

Fifty-five patients underwent septoplasty by a single surgeon between March 2015 and April 2016. All had intranasal septal splints and were given antibiotic prophylaxis for 7 days until removal of splints. Nasal cultures were taken before surgery, and septal splints were examined for bacterial colonization following their removal.

Thirty-six patients (65%) had positive nasal culture prior to surgery. The most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (30%) and Enterobacteriaceae species (66%). All these patients had postoperative bacterial colonization on septal splints. In 15 patients with negative preoperative cultures, bacteria were isolated postoperatively. An increased resistance profile was documented postoperatively in 9 patients (16%), including two with multidrug resistance. In two of these patients preoperative wild-type strains acquired antibiotic resistance postoperatively. No adverse drug reactions to antibiotics were reported.

Increased bacterial growth and emergence of resistant strains were observed on intranasal septal splints despite prophylactic antibiotic treatment. Nonetheless, this did not translate into clinical infection. Thus, considering antibiotics overuse and increasing bacterial resistance, further research is needed to determine the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in the setting of intranasal splints.