Postoperative Infections in Dermatologic Surgery: The Role of Wound Cultures.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Dermatologic surgery is associated with low postoperative infection rates, averaging from approximately 1% to 4.25%. Often, postoperative infections are treated empirically based on clinical diagnosis of infection, given it can take 48 to 72 hours for a wound culture to identify a pathogen.Objective
We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of empiric antibiotics in dermatologic surgery postoperative infections and if wound cultures change postoperative antibiotic therapy.Methods
A 7-center, retrospective analysis of postoperative infections, with culture data, in dermatologic surgery patients was performed.Results
Of 91 cases of clinically diagnosed postoperative infection, 82.4% (n = 75) were successfully treated with empiric oral antibiotics (95% confidence interval [0.73-0.89], p < .0001). In 16 (17.6%) cases, initial empiric antibiotics were unsuccessful, and wound culture results altered antibiotic therapy in 9 cases (9.9%) with 6 (6.6%) of these cases requiring additional coverage for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Conclusion
Empiric antibiotic treatment is usually appropriate for patients with postoperative surgical-site infections with wound cultures altering antibiotic management in a minority of cases. When empiric antibiotics fail, lack of MRSA coverage is usually the cause; therefore, providers should be aware of local MRSA prevalence and susceptibilities.
SUBMITTER: Ken KM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8439158 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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