Evaluation of the practice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in a Zonal Referral Hospital in Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

BACKGROUND: Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SAP) is helpful in preventing patients from developing Surgical Site Infections (SSI). In Mbujimayi, the documentation on the practice of SAP is outdated and inadequate. The last study was conducted more than 5 years ago. This study aims at assessing the compliance of the practice of antibiotic prophylaxis in the surgical and obstetrics-gynecology departments of the Bonzola Zonal Referral Hospital (BZRH) compared to the international standards. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted from March 2020 to March 2021 involving 324 surgical patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis. Interventions were assessed as “compliant” if all the variables individually complied with the criteria for antibiotic prophylaxis use. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study. Compliance was found to be 87.35% for the indication for administration; 0.31% for the choice of the molecule; 3.65% for the time of the first administration; none for the duration of antibiotic prophylaxis. Therefore, the overall compliance was nil. This study shows a significant gap when the current practice in Mbujimayi town is compared to the recommendations of international societies. CONCLUSION: SAP is often indicated in accordance with international recommendations in Mbujimayi. However, the choice of the molecule, the dosage, the time of first administration and the duration of SAP deviate from them. Thus, the compliance of SAP is nil.