title: National practice in antibiotic prophylaxis in breast cancer surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although breast cancer surgery is regarded as a "clean" surgery, surgical site infection (SSI) rates are higher than expected. There is no consensus regarding the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in elective breast surgery. The nationwide survey was conducted to determine the trend of antibiotic prophylaxis in breast cancer among Turkish surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was sent to surgeons who are member of Turkish Surgical Association (TSA) via e-mail from TSA web address. A 15 item web-based survey consisted of surgeon demographics and the use of prophylactic antibiotic in patients with risk factors related to SSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of completed questionnaires was 245. The most common antibiotic used was first generation of cephalosporins. A majority of respondents indicated that prophylaxis was preferred in patients with high risk of SSI including preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, older age, diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency, immediate reconstruction (P < 0.05). However, the use of drain did not significantly influence antibiotic prophylaxis (P = 0.091).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of prophylactic antibiotic was strongly dependent on the presence of some risk factors; however, the variation in current practice regarding antibiotic prophylaxis demonstrated a lack of its effect on preventing SSI after breast cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Science, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Durdu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karasoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baskan
keywords: Antibiotic; Breast cancer; National survey; Prophylaxis; Surgery