https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0169-9429
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ABSTRACT
Purpose
Utilization of antibiotics for endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (endo-DCR) is largely dependent on individual surgeon preference. This study aimed to investigate prescribing practices of pre-, peri-, and postoperative antibiotics and effects on postoperative infection rates in patients who underwent endo-DCR.
Methods
A retrospective chart review of institutional data at two academic centers of endo-DCR cases from 2015–2020 was performed. Postoperative infection rates for patients who received pre-, peri-, and postoperative antibiotics, individually or in combination, and those who did not, were compared via odds ratio and ANOVA linear regression.
Results
331 endo-DCR cases were included; 22 cases (6.6%) had a postoperative infection. There was no significant difference in the infection rates between patients without an active preoperative dacryocystitis who received different permutations of peri- and postoperative antibiotics. Patients who received preoperative antibiotics within two weeks of surgery for preexisting acute dacryocystitis, but did not receive peri- or postoperative antibiotics, had a higher rate of postoperative infections (p = 008).
Conclusions
Our data suggest antibiotics may be beneficial only when patients have a recent or active dacryocystitis prior to surgery. Otherwise, our data do not support the routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis in endo-DCR.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.