The value of single dose flucloxacillin in clean major surgical operations

Abstract

A Randomized Prospective study to review the value of single dose Flucloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis in clean major surgical operations (Thyroidectomy, herniorrhaphy and mastectomy) was carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital, general surgical unit. Patients were recruited according to Inclusion/Exclusion criteria and randomized into two groups. One to receive the antibiotic and the other group not receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. The study used flucloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis with randomization of patients receiving the antibiotic at induction of anaesthesia, as a single bolus dose intravenously. The surgical outcome was gauged by the rate of surgical wound infection in the wards and within 14 days post operatively. The data was analysed after compilation of the questionnaires. The age range was 17 years to 62 years with a mean age of32 years. 380 patients were recruited to the study; Female to Male ratio was 2:1 with 256 females and 124 males. 133 (350/0) patients underwent mastectomy, 125 (33%) Thyroidectomy and 122 (32%) Herniorrhaphy. 188 received antibiotic prophylaxis and 1 (0.5%) out of this group developed wound infection. 192 patients did not receive prophylaxis and 3 (1.6%) out of this group developed wound infection. Thus fewer patients developed wound infection with antibiotic prophylaxis compared to those who did not receive any prophylaxis. These data can be used as a baseline to develop guidelines and standing orders for surgical prophylactic regimens