Does Penicillin Allergy Increase the Risk of Surgical Site Infection after Orthognathic Surgery? A Multivariate Analysis

This study aimed to demonstrate an association between the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) after orthognathic surgery and penicillin allergy and to assess whether other factors could be associated with the occurrence of SSI. A 10-year monocentric retrospective study was conducted to identify possible risk factors for SSI in orthognathic surgery. Bivariate analyses were performed using Fisher, Student, or Wilcoxon tests and multivariate analyses using logistic regression. Two hundred and sixty-six patients were included, and 3.5% had SSI. Bivariate analyses revealed a significant association between SSI and age at surgery (p = 0.01), penicillin allergy (p = 0.02), and postoperative antibiotic therapy by Clindamycin (Dalacine(®)) (p = 0.02). Multivariate analyses confirmed the association between the occurrence of SSI and treatment with Clindamycin (Dalacine(®)) or Clindamycin (Dalacine(®)) and Metronidazole (Flagyl(®)) postoperatively (p = 0.04). Antibiotic therapy with Clindamycin (Dalacine(®)) seems to be associated with a higher rate of SSI, and the mandible was the only site affected by SSI.