Effect of Shortening Preincision Antibiotic Infusion Time on Surgical Site Infection Rates: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective cohort study evaluates the impact of reducing pre-incision antibiotic infusion time on surgical site infection (SSI) rates at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital. Over 13 months, 82 patients undergoing various surgical procedures with preincision antibiotic prophylaxis were analyzed. The study compared SSI rates between patients who received antibiotics within 30 minutes of incision and those administered between 30 to 60 minutes prior. Results showed no statistically significant difference in SSI rates between the groups, with infection rates of 7.0% and 8.0%, respectively. This suggests that a reduced antibiotic infusion time may be safe and could potentially increase surgical efficiency without increasing infection risks. These findings support the possibility of revising current prophylactic antibiotic timing guidelines to enhance surgical workflow efficiency.