title: Prospective, Randomized Comparison of the Effect of Two Antimicrobial Regimes on Surgical Site Infection Rate in Dogs Undergoing Orthopedic Implant Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether extending prophylactic antimicrobial administration into the postoperative period would decrease the surgical site infection (SSI) rate in clean canine orthopedic surgery associated with a metal implant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive procedures (n = 400) on dogs that had clean orthopedic surgery using a metal implant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups. Group 1 was only administered perioperative antimicrobial drugs whereas group 2 was administered perioperative and 5 days of postoperative antimicrobial therapy. Owners were questioned or dogs were examined at 2 and 6 weeks after surgery to identify any SSI. Long term follow-up by questionnaire of the referring veterinary surgeon ≥1 year after surgery was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of 191 dogs (5.24%) in group 1 developed SSI within 6 weeks compared with 7 of 198 (3.54%) in group 2; 7.22% of dogs in group 1 and 8.24% in group 2 developed infections more than 6 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSI rates in this population of dogs were similar where antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered perioperatively over 3 hours or as a course continued for 6 days.
authors.affiliation: Anderson Abercromby Veterinary Referrals, Dorking, UK.
authors.forename: Miranda J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Aiken
authors.affiliation: Liphook Equine Hospital, Liphook, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Anderson Abercromby Veterinary Referrals, Dorking, UK.
authors.forename: Ralph H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Abercromby
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: Anderson Abercromby Veterinary Referrals, Dorking, UK.
authors.forename: Angus A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000662:veterinary; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000662:veterinary; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000662:veterinary; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002444:Cefuroxime