title: Concurrent review of the duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery.
abstract: The administration of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery is appropriate for many patients. Data have shown extending the duration of prophylaxis beyond 48 hours does not lower the rate of postoperative-infection. The purpose of this project was to concurrently assess the duration of prophylactic antibiotic use. A total of 95 patients were monitored over 3 weeks. Eighty patients (84.2%) received antimicrobial therapy. In 23 of these patients (28.75%) the duration of antibiotic administration was longer than 2 days without clinical or microbiological evidence of infection. In 5 other patients only postoperative antibiotics were prescribed. The cost difference between the actual duration of antibiotic administration and 2 days of the same regimen was +1,364.58. Extrapolating for one year, it can be estimated that antibiotic costs could be reduced about +23,600. Pharmacists can focus on the duration of antibiotic prophylaxis as a cost containment measure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001130:Arizona; D003211:Concurrent Review; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014600:Utilization Review