Use of Preoperative and Postoperative Antimicrobial Treatment

Use of Preoperative and Postoperative Antimicrobial Treatment

In this study, patients undergoing ear surgery (cochlear implantation, stapedotomy, tympanoplasty) will be randomized to one of two antibiotic treatment groups.

One group will receive a single treatment with an antibiotic at induction

The other group will receive the single intravenous treatment, plus a one week course or oral antibiotic

1. Patients will be asked to participate in the study.
2. Randomization
3. Surgery
4. Follow-up at 1 week, 1 month patients will be asked if they filled their prescription, took the medication as prescribed, experienced any symptoms such as rash, diarrhea, nausea,.. Further the wound will be inspected for any signs of infection. Patients will also be asked if they had noticed discharge, pain, pulsating sensation
5. Follow-up at three months, 1 year and 2 years - patients will again be asked for any signs of infections or necessary visits with their doctor due to infections

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to participate in the study
• Undergoing standard ear surgery (Stapedotomy, cochlear implantation, tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectomy)

Exclusion Criteria:

• multiple allergies to antibiotic substances
• therapy with an antibiotic substance within the last 6 weeks
• prior radiation to the head and neck patients undergoing revision surgery
• Any use of post-operative antibiotics (oral, intravenous, topical) for reason which do not include surgical site infection