Wound infections in appendicitis: Effective prophylaxis

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Abstract
Wound infections following appendectomy continue to occur at a surprisingly high rate. Individual prophylactic methods have been shown to reduce the incidence but are unlikely to eliminate infections owing to the multifactorial nature of their etiology. No study in which multiple methods were used has yet been reported. In this study 100 consecutive cases of appendicitis were treated by multiple methods including good surgical technique, protective wound packs, avoidance of drains, and systemic antibiotics (penicillin, gentamicin, and clindamycin), in appendicitis associated with perforation, gangrene, or abscess formation. By using these methods a 1% wound infection rate was achieved, the lowest rate yet reported for 100 consecutive cases of appendicitis.