There has been no paediatric research on the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing postoperative infections in children having percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The purpose of this trial was to see if a single dosage of co-amoxiclav before PEG may reduce the number of peristomal wounds and systemic infections in children. Children receiving PEG were assigned to antibiotic prophylaxis with co-amoxiclav versus placebo in this prospective, randomised, double-blind, multicenter study, and the risk of local and systemic infections was examined. 49 of the 106 patients assessed for inclusion were randomised. In the per-protocol analysis, wound infection occurred in 5% of the antibiotic group and 21% of the placebo group. Systemic infection occurred in 9% of the antibiotic group and 27.2 percent of the placebo group. Intention-to-treat analysis yielded similar results. Interestingly, the total infection rate in the placebo group was much greater than in the antibiotic group, and the duration of hospital stay in the placebo group was much longer than in the antibiotic group. On average, the number-needed-to-treat (NTT) to prevent one peristomal infection is 6.7 patients.
A preoperative dosage of co-amoxiclav lowers the overall infection rate as well as the length of hospital stay. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be suggested in all children having PEG installation, according to the findings.
