Routine clean surgery in children without antibiotic cover is safe

Abstract

Background: Routine clean surgery in children carries insignificant risk of surgical site infection and can be carried out without antibiotic cover. Rational use of antibiotic is important as injudicious use can adversely affect the patient, cause emergence of antibiotic resistance and increase the cost of health care. Methods: We performed 69 procedures without antibiotic cover and 72 procedures with single dose of antibiotic. All patients were operated by a single surgeon in a large public hospital from March 2016 to Dec 2016. Results: 1 patient in the antibiotic group developed stitch abscess after 10 weeks. No patient in either group developed infection in the week following surgery. No patient in “no antibiotic” group developed surgical site infection Conclusion: We found no difference in incidence of surgical site infection. There were no late complications.