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Head and neck free flap surgical site infections in the era of the Surgical Care Improvement Project
Author(s) -
Yarlagadda Bharat B.,
Deschler Daniel G.,
Rich Debbie L.,
Lin Derrick T.,
Emerick Kevin S.,
Rocco James W.,
Durand Marlene L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24005
Subject(s) - medicine , surgical site infection , surgery , antibiotic prophylaxis , head and neck , head and neck cancer , cohort , malignancy , risk factor , retrospective cohort study , sulbactam , radiation therapy , antibiotics , antibiotic resistance , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , imipenem
Background Compliance with Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) parameters regarding antibiotic prophylaxis may affect surgical site infection rates. The purpose of this study was for us to report SCIP compliance, surgical site infection rates, and risk factors in a large series of head and neck free flap surgeries. Methods A retrospective review of 480 free flap cases was performed. Surgical site infections occurring within 30 days postoperatively were noted. Results Surgical site infection occurred in 13.3% of cases. Prophylaxis was given in 99.8% of cases; ampicillin‐sulbactam (83%) and clindamycin (9%) were most common. Prophylaxis was “on‐time” in 92.3% of cases. There were no significant associations between surgical site infection and tumor stage, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, tumor subsite, or flap type. Prior radiation was a risk factor for surgical site infection in patients treated for malignancy. Conclusion A surgical site infection rate of 13.3% was noted. In this cohort, with a compliance rate with prophylactic antibiotic measures, prior radiation was found to be a risk factor only in patients with cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38 : E392–E398, 2016