Objectives/hypothesis: To assess the usefulness of postoperative clarithromycin versus classical postoperative prophylaxis with occlusive dressing to prevent cochlear implant skin flap complications.
Study design: Cohort study.
Methods: Surgical site infections were compared in four groups: 1) ceramic/classical postoperative cares (21 patients), 2) titanium-silicon/classical postoperative cares (75), 3) ceramic/clarithromycin (24), and 4) titanium-silicon/clarithromycin (76). Preoperative ceftriaxone was systematically used in all patients in all four groups. Patients were followed up for at least 4 months. Attributable risk and number needed to treat were calculated.
Results: All infections appeared in titanium-silicon covered implants, and the risk of surgical site infection was 8.1 times higher in patients treated only with ceftriaxone and classical postoperative prophylaxis compared to those also given clarithromycin. Eleven patients needed to receive clarithromycin to avoid surgical infection.
Conclusions: Long-term treatment with low-dose clarithromycin may reduce the incidence of surgical site infections.