Researchers gathered data from 303 patients undergoing spine surgery over two years, with 96 receiving prophylactic intrawound vancomycin powder in addition to normal intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis. The remaining 207 patients received just routine intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis.
The researchers also reviewed the cost of return procedures related to surgical site infection. None of the patients who received vancomycin — at a cost of $12 per dose — returned for surgery due to surgical site infection; seven patients in the non-vancomycin group had return surgery, requiring 14 procedures.
The average cost per episode of surgery based on reimbursement to the healthcare facility was $40,992, with a total of $573,897 spent 3 percent of the non-vancomycin cohort. On the other hand, a total of $1,152 was spent on vancomycin for the 96 patients who received it.
“This study shows a reduction in surgical site infections requiring a return surgery — with large cost savings — with use of intrawound vancomycin powder,” concluded the study authors.
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