Incidence of Surgical Site Infections after Transcervical Thyroidectomy in Patients Given Antibiotics versus those without Antibiotics in a Government Hospital in the Philippines

Abstract

Background and Objectives. Surgical site infection (SSI) makes up the largest single group of postoperative infective complications. For surgeries classified as clean surgeries of the head and neck, such as a thyroidectomy, the routine administration of antimicrobial prophylaxis is not recommended. Despite this, extended usage of antibiotics is common in developing countries. This study evaluated the need for antibiotics in elective transcervical thyroidectomy for the prevention of SSI in a tertiary government hospital in a developing country.

Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study that included patients who have undergone elective transcervical
thyroidectomy at the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) of the University of the
Philippines - Philippine General (UP-PGH) Hospital from August 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022. Data collection was
conducted through review of both in-patient and out-patient records.

Results. The data of 58 patients were analyzed. The mean (±SD) age was 42.5±14.5 years, with approximately
2:27 male to female ratio. Of the 58 patients, 26 were given postoperative antibiotics while 32 did not receive
postoperative antibiotics. None of the 58 were noted to have SSI on the 3rd postoperative day. Only 54 patients
completed the 7-day follow-up of the study and their data were further analyzed. One patient had SSI. There was no significant difference between the presence and absence of postoperative antibiotics in relation to SSI (p-value>0.05).

Conclusion. This study shows that in patients undergoing transcervical thyroidectomies, there is no significant
difference in the occurrence of SSI among patients who received and did not receive postoperative antibiotics.
Therefore, there is no need to administer postoperative antibiotics, as long as a sterile surgical technique is ensured.