Background: Prophylactic antibiotics are often used in septoplasty. However, the number of controlled studies, especially randomized double blind placebo controlled studies on the effect of antibiotics in septum surgery, is very low. The PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT STUDY was to investigate if intravenous cefuroxime given as preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis 30 minutes prior to surgery diminishes the risk of infection after septoplasty during the first postoperative month among patients with normal immune function.
Methods: This study was a double-blind placebo controlled randomized study and patients were randomized to either an antibiotic prophylaxis-group or placebo-group.
Results: In the antibiotic-group, the infection rate was 2.2% (2/92) and in the placebo-group 8.3% (8/96), which is not statistically different. All three deep incisional SSI (septal abscess) occurred in the placebo-group. The preoperative crusting or purulent secretion, or Staphylococcus aureus in the bacterial swab increased the risk of postoperative infection significantly.
Conclusions: We recommend the use of one dose of 1500 mg intravenous cefuroxime prior to septoplasty in patients having crusts or purulent secretion in the nasal cavities or if the operation is expected to be prolonged.