ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare the rate of surgical site infections with a single dose versus three doses of prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing emergency appendectomy.

Study design: A Randomized controlled trial.

Place and duration: This study was conducted at department of surgery of Allied Hospital Faisalabad for duration of nine months from January to September, 2020.

Methodology: 310 patients were randomized in this study into two groups, A and B (155subjects in both group). Group A was administered a single shot of metronidazole and cefuroximeat induction of anesthesia and three doses of metronidazole and cefuroximein Group Bi.e.,at induction of anesthesia than 8 and 16 hours after surgery. All patients were followed for 10 days postoperatively. Patient demographics including age, gender, and Surgical Site Infection (SSI) score were recorded on a standardized form. SPSS 21 version was used for Statistical analysis with calculated coefficients and mean ± SD for continuous and categorical variables, correspondingly. A probability of 0.05 was considered significant.

Results:310 patients were examined (155 in group A and 155 in group B). Both groups were compared in ration of demographic variables such as gender and age. There was no substantialvarianceamong two groups in relationshiptogeneralsurgical site infection (P = 0.295).

Conclusion: The single-dose systemic regimen of cefuroxime with metronidazole administered just before surgery is safe and reduces the possibility of surgical site infection.

Key words: appendectomy, surgical site infection (SSI), antibiotic prophylaxis.