Preliminary report of associated factors in wound infection after major head and neck neoplasm operations--does the duration of prophylactic antibiotic matter?
The aim of this study was to investigate whether an extended course of prophylactic antibiotic could reduce the wound infection rate in a subtropical country. Fifty-three consecutive cases scheduled to receive major head and neck operations were randomised into one-day or three-day prophylactic antibiotic groups. Thirteen cases (24.5 per cent) developed wound infections after operations. The duration of prophylactic antibiotic was not related to the surgical wound infection. However, pre-operative haemoglobulin less than 10.5 g/dl (odds ratio: 7.24, 95 per cent confidence interval: 1.28-41.0) and reconstruction with a free flap or pectoris major myocutaneous flap during the operation (odds ratio: 11.04, 95 per cent confidence interval: 1.17-104.7) were associated factors significantly influencing post-operative wound infection. Therefore, one day of prophylactic antibiotic was effective in major head and neck procedures but should not be substituted for proper aseptic and meticulous surgical techniques.
Liu
S-A
SA
Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tung
K-C
KC
Shiao
J-Y
JY
Chiu
Y-T
YT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins