A comparative study of one day versus three days peri-operative use of prophylactic antibiotics in orthopedic surgery

Prophylactic systemic antibiotics is the standard practice to prevent surgical site infections in orthopedic surgery including arthroplasty. There is enough evidence showing its utility in preventing or reducing surgical site infection. Timing of administration, antibiotics to be used and duration of antibiotics are controversial points regarding this practice. The present study using Ceftriaxone 1 gram intravenously 3 doses during 24 hours peri-operative period (group 1 n =58) versus 3 days (group 2 n= 57) has been carried out on planned orthopedic surgeries with specific exclusion and followed up for 1 year. None of the cases of either group developed any infection. The study demonstrates the utility of antibiotics prophylaxis and is a step in deciding guidelines about antibiotics use in our country.