Post-operative Wound Sepsis and Prophylactic Antibiotic

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Post-operative wound sepsis has been an area of prime interest as tackling it has been a surgeon’s primary role. They have been treating patients in sepsis and preventing sepsis in their operative work. With the advent of modern antibiotics, rate of incidence hasreceded. Timing of antibiotic administration is critical to efficacy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of post-operative wound infection in A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore, taking only the clean and clean contaminated cases; to target most common pathogens responsible for sepsis, study their sensitivity pattern and source of infection. To study the various factors such as host, environment and agent factors which are responsible for the increased incidence of wound infection. To focus on the effect of antibiotic use and their contribution to decrease the incidence of wound sepsis. Methods: The study was conducted in the A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and the study period was from October 2016 to March 2017.A sample size of, 100 patients of clean and clean contaminated wounds were included in the study. Various factors such as host, environment and agent factors were analyzed pre-operatively, intra-operatively and post-operatively. The single dose antibiotic injection cefotaxim administered 30 min prior to surgery and its efficacy in preventing wound sepsis was analyzed. Data thus collected were retrospectively analyzed, compiled and studied to highlight the factors responsible for wound sepsis and the importance of prophylaxis. Results: A total of 100 patients, who had undergone clean and clean contaminated surgeries in this hospital, during the study period were evaluated. There were eight patients in the study sample who encountered infection in the due course, predominantly belonging to the poor socio-economic status with prolonged pre-operative stay in the hospital. 50%patients with poor nutritional status and 100% with poor metabolic state were predisposed to infection. Patients with pre-existing co-morbid diseases ran a higher risk with 21.42%. Infection was observed only in shaved patients and abdominal surgeries with higher rate of 15.5% lead the line. 10.86%, in whom drain was used, got infected. Out of eight patients, five grew S. aureus, which is sensitive only to higher group of antibiotics.

Keywords: Immunology, surgery, incidence, wound sepsis, prophylaxis, pathogenicity, inflammation, wound healing, nutrition

Cite this Article Naveen Kumar Salutagi, Rithin Suvarna, Chitang Joshi. Post-operative Wound Sepsis and Prophylactic Antibiotic. Research & Reviews: Journal of Surgery. 2018; 7(3): 9–15p.