Do We Need to Change Our Antibiotic Prescription Practices?

Objectives: To compare the postoperative outcome in patients group who were given single dose antibiotic prophylaxis to prolongedpostoperative antibiotic prescription. Methods: Total 100 cases were included in this study. 50 cases (Group 1) were given one dose of prophylactic antibiotic (Cephalosporin and Metronidazole) while other group (Group 2) received postoperative antibiotic for seven days (Cephalosporin, Gentamicin and Metronidazole).Comparison was made between complications like fever, UTI, chest infection and secondary haemorrhage. Results: The postoperative complications were 58% in seven-day course antibiotic group while it was 38% in the single day course. Urinary tract infection was the commonest infection in both groups 14-18%. There was no wound dehiscence or burst abdomen in either of the group. There were no mortalities in either group as well. Conclusion: Our study shows that single dose antibiotic is more effective to seven-day course. This study has small sample size to draw a firm conclusion; a randomized control trial in our set up would give us a better answer. If we strictly follow the single dose prophylaxis in our elective patients it might reduce the antibiotic resistance and/or economic burden on the health system.