PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTICS IN SURGERY FOR CHRONIC EAR DISEASE

Objectives/Hypothesis: The role of prophylactic antibiotics in otologi c surgery continues to be debated and perhaps misused. Prior studies h ave provided conflicting evidence with regard to the benefit obtained from the use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic otitis media, The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophyl actic antibiotics in the outcomes of surgery for chronic ear disease. It was the authors' impression that there was no indication for prophy lactic antibiotics in such surgery. Study Design: Randomized prospecti ve study performed in a tertiary care facility. Methods: Patients who met inclusion criteria (n = 146) were randomly assigned to an antibiot ic treatment group or a control group receiving no prophylactic antibi otics. Patients in the antibiotic treatment group were given preoperat ive intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics for 5 days af ter surgery. Patients were followed postoperatively and observed for c linical evidence of infection and graft failure. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with rega rd to the incidence of postoperative infection or graft survival. Conc lusions: The use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic ea r disease cannot be recommended based on the findings of this study.