Comparison of single dose versus multiple doses of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of surgical site infection

Background: Surgical site infection is a common problem following general surgical procedures. Despite major improvement in antibiotics, improved antiseptic measures SSI continues to present a big challenge. In this study we will compare single dose versus multiple dose antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of SSI in clean and clean contaminated surgical wound.Methods: This is an institution based prospective, comparative study, with total 60 patients as study population. Clinical finding, wound swab culture and routine haematological reports were taken as study variables. Patients receiving single dose antibiotic and multiple dose antibiotic were included in ‘Group A’ and ‘Group B’ respectively. The surgical sites were examined from post-operative days 3 to 8 for signs of infection.Results: In This study, 46.7% patients were female, and 53.3% patients were male. In Group-A, patients having post operative fever, tachycardia and leucocytosis were 16.7%, 13.3% and 20.0% respectively. 6.7% patients had purulent and 10.0% patients had seropurulent discharge from wound. In Group-B, patients having post operative fever, tachycardia, and leucocytosis were 13.3%, 16.7% and 13.3% respectively. 6.7% patients had purulent and seropurulent discharge from wound. There is no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding post operative fever, tachycardia, leucocytosis and wound discharge.Conclusions: There is no significant difference between single dose and multiple dose antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent SSI in patients for elective clean and clean contaminated surgery however single dose is more cost effective.