COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SHORT TERM VERSUS LONG TERM ANTIMICROBIAL PROPHYLAXIS AFTER ORTHOPAEDIC PROCEDURES

Objective : The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of shortterm (2 days) versus long-term (5 days) antibiotic therapy in preventing wound infections in orthopaedic surgeries. Patients and methods: A total of 100 patients were recruited and were randomly allocated into two groups: Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 will receive short term (2 days) antibiotic therapy and Group 2 will receive long term (5 days) antibiotic therapy. Wound evaluation was done on the basis of ASEPSIS Scoring System. Results: Of the 100 patients enrolled, four developed a surgical site infection. The incidence of SSI (4%) in clean orthopaedic procedures was similar in both the groups, with two cases of SSI in each group. 3 patients had deep incisional type of SSI and one patient had superficial incisional type of SSI. In the short term antibiotic group two patients (4%) had minor infection according to Asepsis Scoring System whereas in the long term antibiotic group one patient (2%) had disturbance of healing while one patient (2%) had severe infection. The mean duration of hospital stay in short term antibiotic group was 6.50 days while in the long term antibiotic group it was 10.18 days. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in rates of SSI among the two groups in our study. However the mean duration of hospital stay was significantly less in the group with short term antibiotic prophylaxis. Key words: short term, long term, antimicrobial prophylaxis, orthopaedic procedures