Prophylactic Antibiotic in Subtalar Fusion Surgery: 24 Hours Versus 5 Days

Infection in orthopedic surgery is one of the most dreaded complications. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be utilized routinely in foot and ankle surgeries involving bone, utilizing hardware and prosthetic joints.

It is appropriate for the antibiotics to be administered within 60 minutes prior to surgery, discontinued within 24 hours after surgery, given prior to tourniquet inflation, and utilized routinely in prolonged foot and ankle surgery cases.

Narrow spectrum antibiotics covering Staphylococcus aureus should be utilized for prophylaxis in patients without a history of resistant infection. According to American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) cefazolin was the most used antibiotic in preoperative prophylaxis, combination of cefazolin with gentamicin was the second common regimen while 3rd generation cephalosporin were 3rd widely used antibiotics.

The controversy persists in administration of antibiotics varying from a single dose to 3 doses to 5 days or 14 days. In subtropical country, with a hot and humid climate is a conducive environment for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial colonization of skin. Therefore, we need studies tailored to our environment in Egypt Prevention of SSIs is critical for the health of patients, Economic efficiency, Antibiotic resistance considerations In conclusion, in many ways, the topic of prophylactic antibiotics in elective foot and ankle surgery is an unusual one, in that a relative divide exists between empirical science and common practice.