European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Chloromycetin ointment consists of 10 mg/g of chloramphenicol in plastibase 30W and soft white and liquid paraffin.Chloramphenicol has a broad spectrum of activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, rickettsias, and Chlamydia. Chloramphenicol ointment is indicated for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, but little evidence exists for its effectiveness in prophylaxis or treatment of wound infection. Despite this, it is regularly used in areas outside its main indication. Before our study, several of the investigating general practitioners had applied it to sutured wounds as prophylaxis against wound infection. A survey of UK plastic surgeons reported that 66% used chloramphenicol eye ointment in their practice, mainly as prophylaxis against infection. The ointment has been used as an adhesive for replacement of the nail bed.
Aim & Objective: 1.To study the efficacy of Chloramphenicol ophthalmic ointment as suture site prophylaxis.2.To study incidence of infections.
Methods: Hospital based Randomized Clinical trial. Study setting: Surgery Department of tertiary care centre. Study duration: April 2019 to April 2020. Study population: All patients who required “minor skin excision” from all body sites were eligible to participate in the study. Skin flaps and two layer procedures were recorded and included
Sample size:50
Results: Majority of study subjects belongs to age group 19-36 yrs contributing 40% followed by age group 37-54 yrs 18 cases (36%), age > 54 yrs 7 cases ( 14%) and age < 18 yrs 05 cases (10%) respectively. Mean age among intervention group is 36.04 with SD of 14.38 and mean age among Control group is 36.72 with SD of 14.18. Most of study participants were males contributing 27 cases (54%) and female contributing 23 cases (46%). Male:Female ratio is 1.17:  in intervention group majority cases presented with Lower extremities lesion e.g 8 followed by Trunk 7, Neck and face 6 and 4 cases with Upper extremities, in control group most of cases presented with Lower extremities lesion e.g 9 followed by Neck and face 7, Upper extremities 6 and 3 cases with Trunk lesion. Incidence of wound infections in intervention (chloramphenicol) and control (paraffin) groups Incidence of infection in intervention group was 8% and in Control group was 16%.