[Postoperative use of antibiotics in septoplasty cases: is it really necessary?].

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of postoperative antibiotic use in the prevention of the surgical site infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients who underwent septoplasty in our clinic between July 2012 and September 2012 were followed. Forty of them received preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and postoperative oral antibiotics (group 1). The other 40 received only preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (group 2). The patients were assessed at the time of removing packings and postoperative first and second week in terms of infection criteria; endoscopic examination was performed and complete blood counting, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were studied. Fifteen patients in each group who completed their follow-up were included in the study. RESULTS: Two patients receiving postoperative antibiotics in addition to the prophylaxis developed infection during follow-up. No infection was seen in the prophylaxis group. CONCLUSION: According to the comparison of the two groups, we conclude that there is no need to use postoperative antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections.