EVALUATING POSTOPERATIVE WOUND INFECTION RATES IN ELECTIVE ABDOMINAL SURGERIES WITH AND WITHOUT PREOPERATIVE ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS

Background: Surgical site infections remain a common postoperative complication following abdominal surgeries, contributing to prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity, and higher healthcare costs. The role of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing such infections has been debated, with concerns regarding both clinical efficacy and antibiotic stewardship. Objective: To assess how preoperative antibiotics influence postoperative wound infection rates in elective abdominal surgical procedures. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over eight months at a tertiary care hospital in South Punjab. A total of 160 patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgeries were randomized into two groups: Group A received preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and Group B underwent surgery without prophylactic antibiotics. The primary outcome was the incidence of surgical site infections within 30 days, assessed according to standardized clinical criteria. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay and the need for reintervention. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and independent t-tests for continuous variables, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Surgical site infections occurred in 7.5% of patients in the antibiotic group compared to 20% in the non-antibiotic group. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the antibiotic group (5.2 ± 1.6 days) than in the non-antibiotic group (6.7 ± 2.1 days). Reoperations due to infection were required in 2.5% of patients receiving antibiotics compared to 8.75% in those without prophylaxis. Conclusion: Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis substantially reduced postoperative infection rates, shortened hospital stay, and lowered the need for reintervention in elective abdominal surgeries. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating prophylactic antibiotics as a standard preventive measure in surgical practice.