Efficacy of antibiotic selected on the basis of sensitivity of operation theatre microflora during orthopedic surgery in dogs

Apparently healthy mongrel dogs (12) weighing between 12-20kg were randomly divided into 3 groups of 4 each. Routine aseptic procedures were adopted. Femur fracture, under general anesthesia, was created with a wire saw. The fracture was repaired by intramedullary pinning. No antibiotic was used in group 1, the experience based routinely used antibiotic (ampicillin) was ad ministered in group 2. On the basis of operation theatre culture sensitivit y, antibiotic (cefazolin) was used in group 3. The recovery in group 1 anim als did not progress satisfactorily as evidenced by clinical signs, hematol ogical results and culture examination. One animal died and in another pin was dislodged. The animals recovered after administering ampicillin. In gro up 2 the recovery was better as compared to group I. The clinical signs wer e evident till seventh post operative day (POD) which could be correlated w ith haematology and clinical findings. In group 3, recovery was faster and uneventful than in other groups. All the parameters were within the normal range. The results confirm that operation theatre environment is the most c ommon source of surgical wound infection. The antibiotic selected on the ba sis of antibiotic sensitivity testing of the operation theatre environment proved more effective in controlling infection than the routinely used anti biotic.