Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS USED IN THE SURGICAL PROPHYLAXIS FOR CLEAN CASES SURGERY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, INDIA

Abu Raihan Shams, Mohd Ajmal*, Abdul Basit, Abdullah, Ahmed Noor Khan, Md. Nematullah, Parwez Anis, Charul Jain and Sadiya Perween

ABSTRACT

Background: Postoperative wound sepsis is a prevalent nosocomial infection among surgical patients, leading to increased antibiotic utilization, healthcare costs, and hospital stays. Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis plays a crucial role in preventing these infections. However, adherence to surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines is variable, and there is a need to assess compliance in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Lucknow, India. A total of 100 patients from various surgical departments were included. Data were collected from medical case sheets, drug charts, and laboratory investigations. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis. Results: The majority of patients belonged to the 20-30 age group, with an equal gender distribution. Urban areas accounted for a higher proportion of patients, and a mixed diet was the most common dietary preference. Cholecystectomy was the most frequently performed surgical procedure, while Total Hip Replacement and Appendicitis had the lowest frequencies. Injection Ceftriaxone was the most commonly used prophylactic antibiotic, but compliance with appropriate antibiotic selection was low. Compliance with the timing of incisions was high, with a small percentage of cases having delayed incisions. Redosing of antibiotics was not required in clean cases, indicating perfect compliance. However, the duration of antibiotic administration exceeded 48 hours in many cases, highlighting suboptimal adherence to guidelines. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of adhering to surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines to reduce the risk of postoperative wounds and optimize the appropriate utilization of surgical prophylaxis antimicrobials.

Keywords: Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP), surgical site infections (SII), appropriate antibiotic selection, compliance with Guidelines and Antibiotic utilization.