[Postoperative infection in ORL oncologic surgery. The choice of preventive antibiotherapy. Experience of the ORL Department of Hôpital Claude Bernard].

The incidence of infection after cervicofacial surgery for ENT cancer varied between 38 and 60% as a function of the type of operation, and prophylactic antibiotic therapy administered, in a series of 133 cases. Contamination was greatest after operations of longest duration and with the largest exposure of tissue. Previous cobalt therapy was an aggravating factor. The highest risk of infections complications resulted therefore from combined salvage operations and the use of a musculocutaneous flap. Among these infections, a purulent bronchorrhea was a frequent and potentially serious complication sometimes the cause of septicemia. A review of 4 different antibiotic therapy regimens showed the pre-operative administration failed to alter the outcome. Combined penicillin-5 imidazole treatment, effective in preventing local and regional anaerobic infection, resulted in secondary infection developing in about 56% of cases. It was not able, in fact, to cover under certain circumstances during prolonged surgery, the postoperative risk of inhalation of gram-negative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria form the buccal cavity. Short-term antibiotic therapy was totally ineffective. It is suggested that combined penicillin-5 imidazole be reserved for operations provoking little contamination of the tracheobronchial region, such as total laryngectomy and total pharyngo-laryngectomy, and that prophylactic therapy using an antibiotic with a wide spectrum against gram negative germs be administered prior to major buccopharyngeal operations with tracheotomy.