Prophylactic Antibiotics Use in Pediatric Day Case Surgery: Is it Really Necessary?

Abstract

performed, presence/absence of wound infection of the 2 groups of patients. Results: A total of 72 cases of pediatric day case surgeries were carried out during the study period with equal number of patients in each group. There was male predominance and the overall mean age of the patients at presentation was 50 months, with a range of 1 month to 14 years. Hydroceles and hernias were the most common clinical diagnoses. Overall, 15 (20.8%) patients developed post-operative complications and out of this number, equal number of patients (5) in each group developed wound infection. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of antibiotics prior to surgical procedures in children may appear routine. Howbeit, this randomized controlled study has shown that the rate of surgical site infection is the same whether prophylactic antibiotics were given or not. Therefore, prophylactic antibiotics may not be necessary in pediatric day case surgeries.