Effectiveness of Cefotaxime in the prevention of surgical site infections in children undergoing elective inguinal surgery at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Introduction and objectives: Inguinal operations are the most performed surgeries in children. There is a divergent view on use of pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent Surgical site infections (SSI) after these surgeries. The aim this study was detect if cefotaxime had significant impact prevention SSI children under 8 years undergoing elective inguinal surgery at University Teaching Hospitals (UTHs), Lusaka.
 Method: This cohort study. A total 170 patients below age herniotomy, orchidopexy or patent processus vaginalis (PPV) ligation UTHs were enrolled. Group with 85 received preoperative while group B did not receive any antibiotics. data collection sheet used record demographic details. Intraoperative variables post-operative outcomes. No patient Follow up look for done 2 weeks 30 days.
 Results: Out patients, 11(6.47%) SSI. Six that surgical (SAP) 5 SAP (P=0.551). Deep seen (p=0.155) grew Staphylococcus aureus their cultures. Only 1 adverse allergic reaction antibiotics noted.
 Conclusion: Despite low risk reactions, there no benefit using surgery.