New Regimen For Prophylaxis Against Postoperative wound infection in Orthopedic Surgery; Prospective Study•

Abstract

' Post operative wound infection remains to be one of the most troublesome complications following surgery and it develops when the virulence and murnber of bacteria contaminating an operative wound overcomes the local and systemic resistance of the host.

The occurrence of post operative wound infection (POWI) carries major consequencies for the health of the patient and dramatically increases the cost of surgery to the health care system due to the prolonged post operative hospital stay, expensive antibacterial therapy, adverse effects of drugs and intensive medical care.

The financial benefits of antibiotic prophylaxis compared to the cost of drugs given to patients with established waund infection together with extended hospital stay are great.

Wound contamination is not the only cause of POWI but there are other factors such as patient's age, weight, presence of diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid medication or radio therapy, .not only but the surgical technique and duration of operative procedure along with the theater and ward environment.

The diagnosis of wound infection is usually made during investigations of unexplained post operative fever, often about , the fourth or fifth post operative day, diagnosis is usually based • on physical findings of redness or induration at the operative ' site and isolated pathogens from the infected wand.

In its mildest form, wound infection is of little consequence being apparent only by erythema around the