title: Antibiotic prophylaxis in elective neurosurgery. Epidemiological study.
abstract: The authors present an epidemiological study of patients who have undergone elective neurosurgery and who have been treated with different types of antibiotics throughout a ten year time span. From the statistic analysis of the different parameters taken into consideration (administering modalities of the short-term and long-term antibiotic, type of sepsis encountered, isolated microorganisms) the authors show, as a result, that the long-term antibiotic prophylaxis is a clearly improper method; the short-term prophylaxis is a correct method the effect of which is, however, still controversial as it does not modify a natural low percentage of infections in elective neurosurgery. The role given to the antibiotic seems much less important compared with the adoption of correct antiseptic measures and of proper nursing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurosurgery Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narciso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bifano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerillo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011292:Premedication; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents