ArticleJournal of spine surgery (Hong Kong)2026
Local vancomycin powder reduces surgical site infections and costs in spine surgery: a retrospective cohort study in a public hospital in Santiago, Chile.
Article in Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a significant complication in spine surgery, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and substantial healthcare costs. While local vancomycin powder has shown promise in reducing SSIs, its efficacy and economic impact remain understudied, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This study aims to evaluate the impact of local vancomycin powder on SSI rates and associated costs in patients undergoing spine surgery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau, Chile, including 205 patients who underwent instrumented spinal surgery between January 2017 and December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: a control group (n=84) that did not receive vancomycin powder and a vancomycin group (n=121) that received suprafascial vancomycin powder during surgery. Data on SSI rates, hospitalization costs, antibiotic costs, and reoperation costs were extracted from electronic medical records. SSIs were defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) guidelines. Statistical analyses included independent Results: The overall SSI rate was 6.3% (13/205), with a significantly higher rate in the control group (11.9%, n=10) compared to the vancomycin group (2.48%, n=3; P<0.05). Cultures were positive in six cases in the control group, while all cultures in the vancomycin group were negative. The most common pathogens were Conclusions: Local vancomycin powder significantly reduces SSI rates and associated healthcare costs in spine surgery. These findings support the use of vancomycin powder as a cost-effective prophylactic measure, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these results and establish standardized guidelines for its use.
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