Prolonged antibiotics after ovarian cancer debulking with intestinal surgery are not associated with improved infectious outcomes (302)

Abstract

<b>Objectives:</b> While limited data support prolonged antibiotic therapy for infectious prophylaxis following intestinal surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the practice is often performed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether prolonged antibiotic therapy is associated with decreased incidence of postoperative incisional infections in patients with EOC undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with colorectal resection. <b>Methods:</b> An IRB-approved, retrospective single-institution cohort study was performed in women with EOC who underwent CRS with colorectal resection from 2008 to 2017. Superficial surgical site infections (SSI) and combined superficial and deep pelvic/intra-abdominal abscesses were assessed independently and defined according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The impact of extended antibiotics (piperacillin/tazobactam x 72 hours) was assessed using univariate models. Cox regression was used to determine the impact of infectious outcomes on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). <b>Results:</b> Of 268 eligible patients, 161 (60.1%) patients received additional antibiotic therapy, and 107 (39.9%) patients received standard antibiotic therapy only. There was no difference seen in the age, race, preoperative ASA score, residual disease, or medical comorbid conditions between the groups. Stage of disease at the time of surgery, histopathologic diagnosis, type of chemotherapy given (neoadjuvant vs adjuvant) were not significantly different among patients who received additional antibiotics (p >0.05) compared to those who did not. Patients who underwent a transverse colectomy were less likely to receive additional antibiotics than other colorectal resections (p=0.032). There were no differences in the rate of superficial SSI or combined superficial-deep SSI or intra-abdominal infections between those who received standard versus prolonged antibiotics (p=0.35). Extended/prolonged antibiotics did not significantly alter PFS (HR: 1.06, p=0.68) or OS (HR: 1.12, p=0.49). <b>Conclusions:</b> In our retrospective study, additional antibiotics did not reduce incisional infectious morbidity in women with EOC undergoing CRS with colorectal resection. Specifically, the addition of extended antibiotics did not improve outcomes in SSI or superficial and deep abscesses. Given the recent association of antibiotic use with poor outcomes after platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy, antibiotic stewardship should be encouraged. Further study of the potential benefit, or lack thereof, of prolonged antibiotics in gynecologic oncology is warranted.