Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Wound Infection Following Modified Radical Mastectomy

Abstract

The patterns of use and efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing postoperative wound infections were determined retrospectively in 217 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy. Patients were divided into three groups: 108 received no antibiotics, 55 received antibiotics preoperatively, and 54 received antibiotics immediately after surgery. The three groups were characteristically similar, and no significant differences were noted in age, weight, associated medical illness, or interval between biopsy and mastectomy. Those patients receiving preoperative antibiotics had 73% fewer probable or definite wound infections than those who received no systemic antibiotic prophylaxis. In those patients with wound infection, the duration of surgery was significantly longer, and the length of hospital stay was increased. Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis was useful in significantly decreasing wound infections following modified radical mastectomy in this cohort.