Routine Antibiotic Prophylaxis is not Necessary for No Scalpel Vasectomy

Abstract

No scalpel vasectomy (NSV) is the recommended technique for male contraception. Majority of surgeons use oral antibiotics for 3-5 days following the procedure. The reasons cited for routine use of antibiotics include that most of these operations are performed in camps where asepsis in less than adequate, most patients are unclean and unhygienic surrounding environment. However, there is no database of wound infection following NSV. This study was undertaken to find out the incidence of wound infection following No scalpel vasectomy if no antibiotic prophylaxis is used. Patients undergoing NSV in the minor operation theatre attached to the Surgical Out Patient Department were included in the study. A standard preoperative part preparation protocol was followed in all patients. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia after obtaining informed consent. Post-operatively patients were advised an oral anti-inflammatory drug for 3-5 days and were reviewed after 1 week for development of wound infection. Over a 4-year period, 322 patients underwent NSV and no patient developed wound infection. Hence, it is concluded that routine antibiotic prophylaxis is not necessary for NSV.