A comparative study between a single-dose and 24-hour multiple-dose antibiotic prophylaxis for elective hysterectomy

Area of Science:

• Infectious Disease
• Surgical Outcomes
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems, increasing costs and impacting patient quality of life.
• Effective prevention strategies for SSIs are crucial in surgical specialties.
• Antibiotic prophylaxis is a standard measure to reduce SSI rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two antibiotic prophylaxis regimens for preventing SSIs in patients undergoing elective hysterectomy.
• To compare a single dose versus 24-hour multiple doses of Cefazolin for SSI prevention.
• To identify risk factors associated with the development of SSIs in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 141 patients undergoing elective hysterectomy.
• Comparison of SSI rates between patients receiving a single dose of Cefazolin versus those receiving 24-hour multiple doses.
• Analysis of potential risk factors for SSIs, including patient demographics and surgical characteristics.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in SSI rates was observed between the single-dose and 24-hour Cefazolin prophylaxis groups (p = 0.872).
• Obesity (p = 0.001) and a laparotomy surgical approach (p = 0.014) were identified as significant risk factors for developing SSIs.
• Other potential risk factors identified include prolonged hospital stay, extended surgery duration, and greater blood loss.

Conclusions:

• While the tested prophylactic regimens showed no significant difference in SSI rates, individualized risk assessment is recommended.
• Tailoring antibiotic prophylaxis based on patient risk factors and employing a multidisciplinary approach can optimize SSI prevention.
• Further research into cost-effective, patient-specific prophylactic strategies is warranted.