Premium
Do Postoperative Antibiotics Affect Outcomes in Mohs Reconstructive Surgery?
Author(s) -
Miller Matthew Q.,
Stevens Jacqueline S.,
Park Stephen S.,
Christophel J. Jared
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.28700
Subject(s) - medicine , mohs surgery , perioperative , reconstructive surgery , surgery , odds ratio , retrospective cohort study , antibiotics , skin grafting , wound dehiscence , cohort , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Objectives/Hypothesis The prescribing of postoperative antibiotics for patients undergoing Mohs reconstructive surgery has increased in the last decade, while antibiotic resistance has been increasing. We hypothesized that routine prescribing of postoperative antibiotics after Mohs reconstruction does not decrease the risk of surgical site infection. Study Design Retrospective, single‐institution cohort study. Methods This study assessed patients who underwent Mohs reconstructive surgery from January 1, 2012, to January 29, 2019. The main outcomes assessed included postoperative surgical site infections, partial or full flap/graft necrosis, hematoma, and dehiscence. Results A total of 900 defects in 800 patients (mean age [range] = 65.3 [21–96], 54.60% female) were identified over the 7‐year period. Patient‐specific variables reviewed included comorbidities, age, and smoking status. Surgery‐specific variables analyzed included defect characteristics, time interval between Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction, reconstructive modalities, and use of postoperative antibiotics. All patients received peri‐incisional antibiotics. On regression analysis, use of cartilage grafts (odds ratio [OR]: 6.53; 95% CI: 2.1‐20.6; P = .001), current smoking status (OR: 6.67; 95% CI: 2.09‐21.30; P = .001), full‐thickness defects (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0‐3.4; P = .045), and interpolated flap reconstruction (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.0‐11.5; P = .049) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative infections. Smoking and cartilage grafting remained significant on bivariable regression modeling. Use of perioperative antibiotics was not associated with a decreased risk of infection (OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 0.23‐14.21; P = .568). Conclusions We found no association between postoperative infections after Mohs reconstructive surgery and the use of postoperative antibiotics. These data support a more targeted approach to antibiotic prescribing in Mohs reconstructive surgery. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope , 131:E434–E439, 2021