Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Review and Institutional Experience

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Infectious Disease Control
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major concern in orthopaedic procedures.
• Optimizing antimicrobial prophylaxis is key to reducing SSIs without fostering resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current evidence on antibiotic prophylaxis in orthopaedic surgery.
• To analyze institutional data on the efficacy of existing prophylaxis protocols.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature review and a retrospective analysis of 1,000 orthopaedic surgeries.
• Assessed the relationship between antibiotic prophylaxis timing/duration and postoperative SSI rates.
• Compared current practices with trust policy guidelines.

Main Results:

• Institutional data showed no significant difference in SSI rates between 24-hour and extended prophylaxis.
• Literature supports timely preoperative antibiotics and discourages prolonged use (>24 hours).
• Findings align with current trust policy.

Conclusions:

• A single or two-dose preoperative antibiotic regimen effectively prevents SSIs.
• Extending prophylaxis beyond 24 hours provides no additional benefit.
• Prolonged antibiotic use may contribute to antimicrobial resistance.