Patterns of Perioperative Antibiotic Surgical Prophylaxis Among Surgical Patients Undergoing Surgery in K.n.h Theatres

Abstract

Background: Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the main principles in reducing postoperative surgical site infection. Choice of antibiotic prophylaxis is best tailored to the type of surgical wound and risk of postoperative infection based on the causative organism. Guidelines were developed to encourage rational antibiotic use and to reduce risk of antibiotic over use which leads to increased hospital costs and promotes antibiotic resistance. Broad Objective: This study sought to determine the patterns of perioperative antibiotic surgical prophylaxis among surgical patients in KNH theatres. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Methodology: Patients undergoing surgery, who were not already on antibiotic treatment, were recruited into the study through consecutive sampling. The patients’ data on choice of antibiotic, time of administration relative to the time to surgical incision, timing and duration of postoperative administration, was collected intraoperatively. The data was then compared against available KNH and WHO surgical antibiotic guidelines. Patients were reviewed postoperatively to assess for surgical site infection. Data Analysis: Data was analyzed with the statistical package for social sciences. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were summarized and presented as means with standard deviations, and interquartile ranges where applicable. The timing and duration of prophylactic antibiotic use was presented as means with standard deviations. Adherence to...................