The Role of Prophylactic and Extended Antibiotic in Patient with Inguinal Hernia Treated with Mesh Repair or Non Mesh Repair

OBJECTIVE : We have conduct a prospective study to evaluate the use of antibiotic prophylaxis or extended in preventing or reducing post-operative wound infection in patients with open inguinal hernia surgery repaired with mesh or without mesh. PATIENT AND METHODS: A prospective study on 92 patients with inguinal hernia surgery collected in the department of general surgery at AL-Mousl and AL- Yarmouk Teaching Hospitals during the Period January 2009_ January 2011, where they divided into two groups: The first group (47 patients): were treated with mesh repair and 24 given a prophylactic antibiotic in the form of single dose of Ampicolx 500 mg intravenously at the time of induction of anaesthesia, and 23 treated with extended antibiotic for 7 days. The second group (45 patients): were treated with non mesh repair and 23 given a prophylactic antibiotic in the form of single dose of Ampiclox 500mg at time of induction of anesthesia, and 22 treated with extended antibiotic for 7 days. Follow up of the patients for 30 days postoperatively was carried Out. Swabs for culture and sensitivity were taken from the wound when signs of wound infection appear. RESULTS: The result was that the incidence of wound infection with the use of prophylactic antibiotic is less than the extended regime although there is no big difference (2.2% versus 4.4), while the incidence of wound infection with mesh or non mesh repair is (4.2% versus 2.2%). CONCLUSION: we can conclude that the use of extended antibiotic in inguinal hernia surgery has very little if any influence on the wound infection