PRACTICE OF PRESCRIPTION ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS IN HEAD AND NECK TUMOR EXCISION: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Since antibiotic prophylaxis standards are frequently not followed, antimicrobial stewardship programmes should focus on improving this area. We looked specifically at clean-contaminated head and neck tumour excision and found that the intervention was linked to altered perioperative prescription and surgical outcomes, including the risk of surgical site infections. One hundred patients who had clean-contaminated head and neck tumour excisions at Mayo Hospital in Pakistan between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024 were the subjects of a retrospective analysis. Patients were split into two groups: pre-intervention (before the education campaign) and post-intervention (after it). We examined surgical outcomes, intraoperative and postoperative variables, and patient demographics and illness features. Prior to the intervention, patients were prescribed more topical chloramphenicol ointment (P <.000), more oral nystatin (P <.001), and longer courses of preventive antibiotics (median [interquartile range], P <.000). Following the intervention, the patients exhibited increased incidence of donor site infections (P <0.005) and recipient infections (P <.001). Patients received shorter doses of preventive antibiotics, more of the suggested cefazolin-metronidazole regimen, and fewer topical medicines after the information campaign. But there was also a greater incidence of surgical site infections in the patients.