The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peri- and postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) on surgical site infection (SSI) in surgeries with elective antibiotic administration in a large university hospital with a high volume of people in the operating room. In this retrospective study, 1060 cats and dogs belonging to private owners were analysed for the occurrence of SSI over a period of almost 5 years, except during the COVID pandemic. Both the patient files were included, and the patient owners were contacted by questionnaire. The type of surgery, the use and type of AMP, as well as the occurrence, time, type and treatment of an SSI were documented. The overall SSI rate was 7.8 % (66/841). The use of an AMP did not lead to a significant reduction in risk in any of the surgeries analysed. Postoperative continuation of antibiotic prophylaxis showed no significant difference compared to perioperative prophylaxis alone. When interpreting the results, the retrospective nature of the study should be considered, as well as the fact that some of the results are based on a survey of patient owners.
Keywords: AMP; Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis; SSI; Small animal surgery; Surgical site infection.
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