title: Antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiothoracic surgery: results of a second survey.
abstract: The use of prophylactic antimicrobials in cardiothoracic surgery has become an accepted medical practice. The choice of drug and the duration of therapy varies among institutions. In 1985, we conducted a telephone survey to determine the choice of prophylactic antimicrobials in cardiothoracic surgery programs across the U.S. We recently conducted this survey for a second time. In our 1988 survey, 51 hospitals responded, with 34 (67%) having a standard antimicrobial regimen. Of all hospitals surveyed, first-generation cephalosporins were the most commonly used agents. First-generation cephalosporins were employed in 33 (48.4%) hospitals, cefamandole in 13 (19.1%), cefuroxime in nine (13.2%), vancomycin in three (4.4%), and vancomycin plus gentamicin in two (2.9%). A variety of other agents were employed by one of the remaining hospitals. Fourteen (27%) hospitals had automatic stop orders for antimicrobial prophylaxis in this indication. Ten (19.6%) institutions had changed the antimicrobial agent(s) used for prophylaxis in the last year. The results of this survey indicate that most hospitals continue to use first-generation cephalosporins for antimicrobial prophylaxis in cardiothoracic surgery, but there is considerable variation among institutions.
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64111.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gersema
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D002435:Cefamandole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011292:Premedication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States