Single-dose intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in emergency abdominal surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Infection Prevention
• Intraoperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis
• Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Background:

• Postoperative wound infections are a significant complication in emergency abdominal surgery.
• Current prophylactic antibiotic strategies require optimization for improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a single intravenous dose of gentamicin sulfate and clindamycin phosphate for intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis.
• To determine the impact on the incidence of postoperative wound infections in emergency abdominal surgery.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial design.
• Administration of a single intravenous dose of gentamicin sulfate and clindamycin phosphate intraoperatively.
• Comparison of wound infection rates between the antibiotic prophylaxis group and the control group.

Main Results:

• Overall postoperative wound infection incidence decreased from 32.3% to 10.4% in the antibiotic prophylaxis group.
• Significant reduction in wound infections observed irrespective of the underlying pathology.
• No adverse side effects associated with the antibiotic regimen were reported.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative single-dose intravenous gentamicin and clindamycin effectively reduces surgical site infections in emergency abdominal surgery.
• Antibiotic prophylaxis is particularly beneficial for elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal procedures.
• This regimen is safe and effective for preventing postoperative wound infections.