Audit of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Practices in Orthopaedic Surgeries at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Surgical site infection following orthopaedic procedures is a preventable complication that increases morbidity, prolongs hospitalisation, and raises healthcare costs. Rational antibiotic prophylaxis is a cornerstone of infection prevention in orthopaedic surgery. This retrospective clinical audit examines antibiotic prophylaxis practices in elective and emergency orthopaedic surgeries at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), North East Nigeria, over a two-year period. Case records of patients who underwent orthopaedic procedures will be reviewed for choice of prophylactic antibiotic, timing and duration of administration, and compliance with the hospital's institutional guidelines. Cases of surgical site infection will be identified and correlated with prophylaxis adherence. Descriptive statistics will summarise patterns of compliance and deviation from best practice. The study anticipates suboptimal adherence to recommended single-dose prophylaxis protocols, with tendencies toward prolonged post-operative courses. Findings will be reported to the hospital's infection control committee and the orthopaedic departmental management for quality improvement. Evidence from this audit will contribute to developing a locally validated antibiotic stewardship protocol for orthopaedic surgical units in North East Nigeria, where limited microbiological resources complicate infection management. This work aligns with national antimicrobial resistance containment strategies and supports the responsible use of antibiotics in surgical practice. Keywords: antibiotic prophylaxis, orthopaedic surgery, surgical site infection, Maiduguri, antimicrobial stewardship.