Improving Adherence to Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Through Visual Aids: A Intervention Study in Huanuco, Peru

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a major public health issue in many countries, particularly in low- and middle-income settings where their impact on morbidity, mortality, and hospital expenditure is more pronounced. Antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the most effective strategies to reduce these infections; however, compliance with established guidelines remains inconsistent. This study evaluated whether medical posters could improve adherence to antibiotic prophylaxis protocols in a regional Peruvian hospital. A quasi-experimental pre–post design was conducted including 26 clean or clean-contaminated surgeries before and 26 after the implementation of visual aids. Adherence was assessed according to national recommendations aligned with the ASHP guidelines. After the intervention, there was a significant decrease in unnecessary prophylaxis and an increase in correct omission of antibiotics in procedures that did not require them (p < 0.05). Improvements in dosage, timing, and duration were observed but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that posters may support more appropriate decision-making regarding the indication for prophylaxis, although they may not be sufficient to optimize technical components of administration.