Effect of a Single Preoperative Dose of Oral Antibiotic to Reduce the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection Following Below-knee Dermatological Flap and Graft Repair

Effect of a Single Preoperative Dose of Oral Antibiotic to Reduce the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection Following Below-knee Dermatological Flap and Graft Repair

Authors

  • Helena Rosengren School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Skin Cancer College of Australasia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Skin Repair Skin Cancer Clinic, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
  • Clare F. Heal School of Medicine, James Cook University, Mackay, Queensland, Australia
  • Petra G. Buttner Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Keywords:

antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical site infection, dermatological surgical wound infection, operative surgical procedures, grafts

Abstract

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) rates for below-knee dermatological surgery are unacceptably high, particularly following complex flap and graft closures. The role of antibiotic prophylaxis for these surgical cases is uncertain.
Objective: To determine whether SSI following complex dermatological closures on the leg could be reduced by antibiotic prophylaxis administered as a single oral preoperative dose.
Methods: A total of 115 participants were randomized to 2 g of oral cephalexin or placebo 40-60 minutes prior to surgical incision in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at a primary care skin cancer clinic in North Queensland, Australia.
Results: Overall 17/55 (30.9%) controls and 14/55 (25.5%) intervention participants developed infection (P = 0.525). There was no difference between the study groups in adverse symptoms that could be attributed to high-dose antibiotic administration (P = 1).
Conclusion: A single oral 2-g dose of cephalexin given before complex below-knee dermatological closure did not reduce SSI.

Downloads

Published

2019-01-31

Issue

2019 Vol 9, No 1 | January

Section

Research

License

Dermatology Practical & Conceptual applies a Creative Commons Attribution License (CCAL) to all works we publish (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Authors retain the copyright for their published work.

How to Cite

1.
Rosengren H, Heal CF, Buttner PG. Effect of a Single Preoperative Dose of Oral Antibiotic to Reduce the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection Following Below-knee Dermatological Flap and Graft Repair. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2019;9(1):28-35. doi:10.5826/dpc.0901a08

Share

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC