Prospective, Randomized Comparison of the Effect of Two Antimicrobial Regimes on Surgical Site Infection Rate in Dogs Undergoing Orthopedic Implant Surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether extending prophylactic antimicrobial administration into the postoperative period would decrease the surgical site infection (SSI) rate in clean canine orthopedic surgery associated with a metal implant.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized prospective clinical study.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Consecutive procedures (n = 400) on dogs that had clean orthopedic surgery using a metal implant.

METHODS

Cases were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups. Group 1 was only administered perioperative antimicrobial drugs whereas group 2 was administered perioperative and 5 days of postoperative antimicrobial therapy. Owners were questioned or dogs were examined at 2 and 6 weeks after surgery to identify any SSI. Long term follow-up by questionnaire of the referring veterinary surgeon ≥1 year after surgery was obtained.

RESULTS

Ten of 191 dogs (5.24%) in group 1 developed SSI within 6 weeks compared with 7 of 198 (3.54%) in group 2; 7.22% of dogs in group 1 and 8.24% in group 2 developed infections more than 6 weeks after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

SSI rates in this population of dogs were similar where antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered perioperatively over 3 hours or as a course continued for 6 days.