Incidence of clinical infection after periodontal surgery: a prospective study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of clinical infection after routine periodontal surgery. The population studied comprised patients in need of periodontal surgery at the Periodontal Division, Dental Department, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, during the period from January 1989 to June 1990. A total of 207 patients including 103 males and 104 females were involved, and 220 surgical procedures were carried out under aseptic conditions. Patients allergic to antibiotics or with any systemic problems were excluded from this study. Following surgery, 82 surgical cases were prescribed antibiotics (group 1), and 138 surgical cases were not prescribed antibiotics (group 2). Periodontal surgical techniques employed included flap surgery, osseous surgery, gingivectomy/gingivoplasty, soft tissue grafting, and tooth resection. Postoperative infection was defined as progressively severe pain, pus exudate, local swelling, and lymphadenopathy. The degree of wound redness and swelling was also recorded. The mean age in group 1 was 38.3 +/- 13.8 and was 38.9 +/- 14.6 years in group 2 (p = 0.78). The total occurrence of postoperative infection was 3.6% (8/220), including 3.7% (3/82) in the group with antibiotics and 3.6% (5/138) in the group without antibiotics. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of postoperative infection between the two groups (Zc = -0.36, p = 0.72). Based on the results of this prospective study, we conclude that the routine prescription of antibiotics is not necessary following periodontal surgery using aseptic surgical techniques.