Study of Pre-Surgical Antimicrobial Prescribing Pattern and Correlation with Microbiological Data in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Pre-surgical antimicrobial are antimicrobial agents which are administered just before surgery to prevent the surgical site infections are often used inappropriately. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the pre-surgical antibiotics and correlate with the microbiological data. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of microbiology at Father Muller Medical College Mangalore. Inpatients aged above 18 years undergoing surgical procedures were included. Pre-surgical antibiotics and Microbiological data i.e. pathogen isolated, from the specimens [pus and swab] sent from suspected cases of infections and its antibiotic susceptibility was noted. Results: Most common single pre-surgical antibiotic prescribed was Ceftriaxone and combination of pre-surgical antibiotic was Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole. Infection was suspected in seventeen patients out of 539 patients. Isolated organisms were Escherichia coli [ESBL], Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus and Pseudomonas species. Conclusion: Pre-surgical antibiotic prescribed differs from departments and different parameters. High compliance with the institutional pre-surgical antibiotic guidelines was seen with the parameter like selection of pre-surgical antibiotic, route of administration and dosage. Recommended Pre-surgical antibiotic [Cephalosporin] does not prevent infection from the pathogens like ESBL, Enterococcus species, Pseudomonas species, Acinetobacter species, which are intrinsically resistant to betalactums.