Saudi orthopedic surgeons’ knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding surgical antibiotic prophylaxis

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of orthopedic surgeons practicing in Saudi Arabia regarding surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on certified and under-training orthopedic surgeons registered in the Saudi Council for Health Specialties. An email, including an online validated self-administered survey using a voluntary response sampling technique, was sent between November 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire comprised 12 questions that tested knowledge regarding SAP, five questions that analyzed surgeon attitudes toward SAP, and three questions on SAP-related practice. Results: This study included 271 orthopedic surgeons from different areas of Saudi Arabia. The majority of respondents were registrars (or equivalent) (n = 92; 33.9%), and most of them were male (n = 257; 94.8%). Almost 95% of respondents reported that SAP was indicated for internal fixation, spinal surgeries, and prosthetic joint replacement. Moreover, 82.7% of the respondents stated that cefazolin was considered the first-line SAP. Almost 85% of the respondents demonstrated a positive attitude toward SAP, with a mean score of 2.48. However, 87.5% of them believed that adhering to SAP general guidelines would reduce the rate of infection in orthopedic surgeries. Almost 53% of respondents reported using only one guideline as a reference in their surgical practice. Moreover, 41.3% of surgeons switched between guidelines depending on the surgery. Conclusion: This study revealed adequate knowledge and a positive attitude toward SAP among orthopedic surgeons. However, a discrepancy in the practice habits of orthopedic surgeons was observed, which is explained by non-adherence to SAP protocols. Common guidelines that can be used by all orthopedic surgeons need to be developed and implemented to reduce surgical site infections and non-adherence to SAP protocols. This task can be done by a general trusted body like the Saudi Orthopedic Association.