IMPACT OF INTRAOPERATIVE VANCOMYCIN USE ON THE INFECTION RATE IN SPINE SURGERY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article sought to evaluate scientific productions on the effectiveness of the use of vancomycin in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs), in light of the challenges in surgical interventions, especially in spinal procedures, due to the high risk of complications and the increasing bacterial resistance. The work consists of a systematic review with meta-analysis conducted in 2025, based on national and international scientific articles on the intraoperative use of vancomycin in reducing SSIs. Searches were conducted in five databases, using the descriptors: vancomycin, β-lactams, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), bacteremia, and bloodstream infection. A total of eighteen selected articles were analyzed, involving 3,004 patients, with 1,336 in the intervention group and 1,668 in the control group. The results indicated that the use of powdered vancomycin did not promote a significant improvement in outcomes related to the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) in spinal surgeries. Based on the available data, it is not possible to accurately state the efficacy of intraoperative topical vancomycin in reducing surgical site infections, highlighting the need for new, more robust and standardized clinical studies.