Background: surgical site infection is one of the most common post operative complications alongside with sepsis, cardiovascular, pulmonary and thromboembolic complications. The development of surgical site infection is related to three factors: the degree of microbial contamination of the wound during surgery, the duration of the procedure, and host factors such as diabetes, malnutrition, obesity, immune suppression, and a number of other underlying disease states. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical cephazolin in controlling infection of the site of surgery after non-laparoscopic cholecystecomy.

Methods: One hundred and two of patients referred to the outpatient clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital from fall 2005 to fall 2006 non- laparoscopic cholecystectomy enrolled in a randomized clinical trial. All patients underwent the same procedure of anesthesia and surgery and they were randomly assigned into two groups of cases with irrigation of the site of surgery with 1g of topical Cephazolin prior to the termination of the operation- and controls. Cephazolin is a first generation cephalosporin which binds penicillin binding protein and is a potent cell wall synthesis inhibitor. The patients were followed up for six weeks for symptoms and signs of infection including discharge of the wound; and presence of pain, warmness, swelling and erythema of the wound.

Results: There were no significant differences between two study groups regarding mean age, duration of operation, and sex. There was no significant difference in the incidence of infection of the site of surgery (11.8% in both groups with p=0.99) between two groups.

Conclusion: Analyzing the collected data confirms that prophylactic use of topical cephazolin was unable to decrease the risk of infection of the site of surgery in patients undergoing non- laparascopic cheolecystectomy.