Background : SSI is the third most commonly reported nosocomial infection. Appropriate AMP has been found to be effective in reducing SSI , but inappropriate use is associated with increase in the cost and emergence of bacterial resistance.
Aim: This study was aimed to determine the pattern of prophylactic antimicrobial utilization and incidence of SSI in abdominal surgeries .
Settings and Design: This retrospective observational study included patients who had undergone abdominal surgeries in the Department of General Surgery and Obstetrics and Gyaenacology over a period 10 months.
Material and methods : 500 abdominal surgeries were considered for study and data collected includes, types of surgeries ; wound classes ; choice, dose, route, timing and duration of AMP apart from demographic profile of the patients.
Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test was applied at 5% level of significance.
Results : In our study overall SSI rate was 12.4 %. Two drug combination of Cefotaxim and Metronidazole was most commonly used antibiotic ( 49.2 %). A significant statistical correlation was found between timing of AMP and SSI rate (P < 0.05 , χ2 = 5.5). But no statistically significant correlation was found between duration of AMP and SSI (P > 0.05 , χ2 = 0.1182 ).
Conclusion : As inappropriate use of antimicrobials is a significant factor for development of bacterial resistance, therefore judicious use of prophylactic antimicrobials with respect to choice, dose, route, time and duration is very essential
Keywords: Surgical site infection (SSI), Antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP), Abdominal surgery.
