Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON POSTOPERATIVE INFECTIOUS OUTCOMES IN THYROIDECTOMY CASES WITH AND WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS

Alishar Sayed*, Ahmadi Tabassum M., Pavani Melpati and Ramanaiah Jagannadham

Abstract

Background: Since thyroidectomy comes under the category class-I surgery (clean surgery) and surgical site infection (SSI) rate is very low. The incidence of surgical infections at the surgical site was reduced by rationale use of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis. Methods: 200 thyroidectomy cases were randomly selected. Out of which 100 were given either pre-operative and post-operative antibiotics and remaining 100 were not administered perioperative antibiotics. All cases were followed up for a minimum of 30 days postoperatively for any signs of SSI, and if present that are graded by using Southampton grading system for SSI. Results and Discussion: Out of 200cases, 141 were females and 59 were males. Among the pathology of tumors, 172 were benign and 28 were malignant. Total thyroidectomy, subtotal and hemi-thyroidectomy were performed in 112, 69 and 19 patients respectively. There is no significant difference between the two groups in terms of SSI, which is proved by a p-value of 0.525. So there is no added benefit in using prophylactic antibiotics in thyroidectomy for prevention of SSI. Conclusion: Low incidence of wound infection in thyroidectomy may not be related to the use of antibacterial medications. Preventive therapy for surgical site infection may not be required, if the procedure is performed under stringent conditions of sterility, hemostasis and follows good drainage measures, which will reduces the cost and discourages antibiotics usage.

Keywords: Thyroidectomy, surgical site infection, prophylactic antibiotics, Southampton score.