Understanding Surgical Site Infection in Post Operative Patients of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Causative Organisms and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns – A Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with oral cancer are more likely to experience surgical site infection. SSIs following head and neck cancer surgery can occur in as many as 10–45% of cases, even with antibiotic treatment. Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen in surgical site infections (SSIs) after head and neck surgery. Our goal was to comprehend the causative organisms and antibiotic sensitivity patterns associated with surgical site infection in postoperative patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Materials and methods: This is a single Centre prospective study over a period of 12 months. Patients undergone surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma were monitored for up to 30 days for any sign of infection development. Wound swabs were collected from infected sites and sent for microbiological analysis. The isolated organisms were identified using standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.
Results: Surgery was performed on 80 patients for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Out of which 30 patients developed signs of infection. Majority of the patients in our study aged between 40 to 60 years. An extraoral neck wound was identified as the most frequent site of infection. Nearly, half of the patients in our study were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Least of them infected with Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. The most sensitive antibiotic drug against microorganism was found to be piperacillin.
Conclusion: Early detection of bacterial infections and the use of a potent antibiotic against the pathogen are essential for the successful treatment of patients with surgical site infection. Antibiotic use in court is also crucial to preventing the emergence of drug resistance.