Evaluation of Timing of Vancomycin Surgical Site Infection Prophylaxis with Scheduled Antibiotic

Abstract

Specific Aims: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the time of vancomycin pre-operative surgical site infection prophylaxis administration relative to other scheduled antibiotic therapy at a tertiary care, academic medical center. The secondary purpose was to characterize the incidence of adverse events post-surgery that were associated with vancomycin therapy in patients who received both pre-operative scheduled vancomycin therapy and vancomycin for surgical site infection prophylaxis Methods: This descriptive study was a retrospective medical chart review of all patients over the age of 28 days who received vancomycin for surgical site infection prophylaxis between February 2011 and May 2011 at a tertiary care, academic medical center. This study was approved be the Institutional Review Board. The subject population included patients admitted to the hospital for at least 72 hours who received at least 48 hours of scheduled vancomycin (IV), daptomycin or linezolid therapy before index surgery and subsequently received surgical site infection prophylaxis with vancomycin. Main Results: Of the 20 subjects who meet the study inclusion criteria, 18 (90%) subjects received scheduled vancomycin doses within 48 hours prior to surgery, 5 (25%) subjects within 4 hours, and 4 (20%) subjects within 2 hours. No surgical site infections were reported. Conclusions: This was a pilot study to evaluate the timing of vancomycin surgical site infection prophylaxis doses with scheduled vancomycin, linezolid, and daptomycin. No adverse effects associated with surgical site infection prophylaxis were reported but the sample size is small and likely inadequate to detect this potential issue.