The Association of Adherence to Antimicrobial Prophylactic Recommendations for Clean Neurosurgeries with Post-operative Surgical Site Infection

Objective: The use of antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent surgical site infections (SSI) is well established. This study examined the association of adherence to antimicrobial prophylaxis for clean neurosurgeries with post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) rates. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) among pediatric patients who underwent clean neurosurgical procedures between January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2019. The outcome measured was the development of SSI. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to show the association of risk factors with SSI. Compliance to existing antibiotic prophylaxis recommendation was assessed. Results: One hundred eighty-nine (189) medical charts were reviewed. Overall prevalence of SSI was 9.5% and fever was the most common initial symptom of SSI. Staphylococcus species was identified from cultures of surgical sites, consistent with existing literature, however gram-negative organisms including multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) were noted. All cases received prophylactic antibiotics, but adherence to all parameters (antimicrobial choice, dose, timing, route, re-dosing and duration of prophylaxis) was low at 7.9%. Appropriate antibiotics were prescribed in only 15.9% and antibiotics were discontinued beyond 24 hours post-surgery in 45.5% of cases. Patients who received a regimen fully compliant with antimicrobial prophylaxis recommendations did not develop SSI. Conclusion: Adherence to existing antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol for neurosurgeries is low at 7.9%. Patients who received a regimen fully compliant with the recommendations did not develop SSI. Interventions to improve compliance to antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines are needed.