Systemic prophylactic antibiotics: need the 'cost' be so high?
To assess compliance with accepted principles, the use of prophylaxis with systemic antibiotics in selected specialty procedures was examined. The operations reviewed were aortofemoral bypass, pulmonary resections, open-hip procedures, and head-neck cancer procedures that involve the oropharyngeal cavity. Of all patients, 74% received antibiotics preoperatively and 79% received prophylaxis with antibiotics longer than 24 hours postoperatively. Evaluated against the criteria of preoperative initiation and limited postoperative administration (less than 24 hours) only 10% of the patients received appropriate prophylaxis. A 3% incidence of drug-associated complications was identified; each patient with complications had received antibiotics for a prolonged time postoperatively. Reduction in the length of postoperative prophylaxis with systemic antibiotics will reduce (1) the number of drug-associated complications, (2) selection pressures on the hospital microbial population, and (3) needless expense in hospitalized patients.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents