Introduction: One of the most important aspects of inappropriate antibiotic use among general surgeons in Turkey is the use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SP). In order to shed light on the current situation, we conducted a survey of general surgeons in our country. Our aim was to evaluate the approach taken by our general surgeons in prescribing SP, while providing data pertinent to the effectiveness of the ‘Rational Drug Use’ (AIK) national action plan. Methodology: A questionnaire on the subject of personal SP usage and compliance with guidelines was distributed amongst general surgeons between 2018-2019. The questions related to individual approaches taken by surgeons when treating patients with either clean or clean-contaminated wounds. Results of the questionnaires were collated and compliance with ASHP guidelines was evaluated. Results: A total of 317 completed questionnaires were evaluated. According to the questionnaire results, the rate of total compliance with ASHP guidelines was 26.8%. The compliance rate for preoperative SP was 69.7% in the clean wound group and 54.6% in the clean-contaminated wound group. Although 96.5% of the participants reported correct timing for the first dose of SP, this number dropped to 79.5% apropos the adminstration of further doses of prophylaxis. The percentage of surgeons prescribing continued antibiotics at discharge for clean and clean-contaminated cases was 22.7% and 38.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that inappropriate use of SP is widespread in our country, and that antibiotics continue to be prescribed at discharge.

Patients’ perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence and robots in healthcare

Objective: We aimed to compare scoring systems and peripheral inflammatory biomarkers in estimating mortality among Fournier's gangrene (FG) patients. Background: Multiple scoring systems and biomarkers are utilized to assess FG severity and predict mortality. However, these indices have complexities, limitations, and inconsistencies. Therefore, alternative methods and parameters are investigated. Materials and Methods: Each patient’s clinical and laboratory data are well documented at hospitalization, Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI), Uludag FGSI (UFGSI), simplified FGSI (SFGSI), and age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) scores and peripheral blood parameters and ratios were calculated. Patients were compared in two groups as deceased and survived ones. Results: Among the 160 patients, 35 (21.9%) died. Diabetes was the most prevalent comorbidity. Deceased patients had significantly higher FGSI, UFGSI, ACCI, and SFGSI scores compared to the survivors (p < 0.001). Among the prognostic parameters, only the red cell distribution width (RDW) value was statistically significantly higher in the non-surviving group (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified age, elevated blood urea nitrogen, symptom duration, disease extent, and malignancy as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: FGSI, UFGSI, SFGSI, and ACCI are reliable prognostic scores in FG and aren’t superior to each other. Age, blood urea nitrogen levels, duration of symptoms, disease extent, and coexisting malignancy were found to be independent prognostic factors. Given its rapid and cost-effective nature, RDW should be considered alongside other established parameters in future prognostic models. A new scoring method that includes these variables would be practical and worth testing.