Evaluating the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy on surgical site infection: a randomized clinical study

Given the alterations in definitions and the varied, at times entirely contradictory results, the need for new studies regarding the factors influencing the occurrence of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) is increasingly felt. This study aims to investigate the role of prophylactic antibiotics in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) in low-risk patients.

In this clinical trial, 120 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy as per the inclusion criteria. Between September 2021 and May 2022, within the Department of Surgery at Birjand Medical University, candidates slated for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were systematically allocated into two distinct groups: one receiving prophylactic antibiotics and the other not. The principal outcome measured was the incidence of postoperative infectious complications. Data were analyzed in SPSS (Version 23) software using Mann-Whitney, t-test, Fisher's Exact, and Chi-square tests. The level of significance was set to P <0.05.

A total of 120 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, divided into two groups: 59 received preoperative prophylactic antibiotics (Antibiotic Group, AG) and 61 did not (No Antibiotic Group, NAG), with no significant differences in clinical characteristics like gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and operation times. Surgical site infection (SSI) occurred in two patients (3.4%) in the AG and four patients (6.7%) in the NAG, with no significant overall difference in SSI incidence between the groups (P=0.679). The study found no significant differences in preoperative WBC, hemoglobin, or creatinine levels between patients with and without SSI, indicating similar preoperative conditions across both groups.

The outcomes of our study revealed no substantial disparities between patients administered prophylactic antibiotics and those not during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCC). Consequently, the utilization of prophylactic antibiotics in elective LCC is not requisite for low-risk patients.