Frequency of surgical site infection after single dose of preoperative antibiotics in children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis: a cross-sectional study

Background: Hyperaemic suppurative appendicitis, or uncomplicated appendicitis, often requires an appendectomy. Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is common post-surgery, and prophylactic studies show ceftriaxone and metronidazole effectively protect against most causative organisms. Methods: Ninety patients were included through non-probability convenience sampling. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed using the Alvarado score, with surgery for scores of 7 or higher. A single preoperative dose of ceftriaxone and metronidazole was administered. Follow-up visits included stitch removal on the seventh postoperative day and monitoring up to the tenth postoperative day using the Southampton criteria for wound infection. Results: Of the 90 patients, 64 (71.1%) were male and 26 (28.9%) were female. Fifty (55.6%) scored 7-8 on the Alvarado score, and 40 (44.4%) scored 9-10. Using the Southampton criteria, 5 (5.6%) developed grade I SSI. Infection rates showed no significant difference between male (3.1%) and female (11.5%) patients (p value >0.05) or by Alvarado score and symptom duration. No cases of SSI beyond grade II were observed. Conclusions: Administering a single preoperative antibiotic dose effectively minimizes surgical site infection in children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis, demonstrating clear management advantages.