title: Prophylactic antibiotic use in four Dublin teaching hospitals.
abstract: A retrospective study of 266 surgical patients revealed that 55% received antibiotics. Of these, 71% had prophylactic and 29% therapeutic courses. Twenty-five per cent of prophylactic courses were started post-operatively, 65% were continued for more than 24 hours, 28% were administered by an inappropriate route and 10% were started more than two hours pre-operatively. Of all courses of antibiotics ordered, 67% had no record of intended duration on the prescription. In 4% of courses the surgeon's orders were not followed. This study demonstrates widespread suboptimal use of antibiotic prophylaxis in a variety of surgical specialties.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duignan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouchier-Hayes
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008485:Medical Audit; D011292:Premedication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents