Prospective, Randomized Comparison of the Effect of Two Antimicrobial Regimes on Surgical Site Infection Rate in Dogs Undergoing Orthopedic Implant Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether extending prophylactic antimicrobial administration into the postoperative period would decrease the surgical site infection (SSI) rate in clean canine orthopedic surgery associated with a metal implant.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized prospective clinical study.

SAMPLE POPULATION: Consecutive procedures (n = 400) on dogs that had clean orthopedic surgery using a metal implant.

METHODS: Cases were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups. Group 1 was only administered perioperative antimicrobial drugs whereas group 2 was administered perioperative and 5 days of postoperative antimicrobial therapy. Owners were questioned or dogs were examined at 2 and 6 weeks after surgery to identify any SSI. Long term follow-up by questionnaire of the referring veterinary surgeon ≥1 year after surgery was obtained.

RESULTS: Ten of 191 dogs (5.24%) in group 1 developed SSI within 6 weeks compared with 7 of 198 (3.54%) in group 2; 7.22% of dogs in group 1 and 8.24% in group 2 developed infections more than 6 weeks after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: SSI rates in this population of dogs were similar where antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered perioperatively over 3 hours or as a course continued for 6 days.