[Appropriateness of antibiotic prescription in ENT surgery].
BACKGROUND
Although extensive studies on the use of antibiotics during and after surgery exist, antibiotics are still used too liberally.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the appropriateness of antibiotic use in ENT surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective study of all surgical procedures performed at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of the University of Basel between April and June 1999. Of the 174 procedures 30 were classified clean, 50 clean-contaminated (group A), 69 clean-contaminated (group B), 14 contaminated, and 11 dirty.


RESULTS
9% of all patients received inappropriate antibiotic prophylaxis and 4% inappropriate primary antibiotic treatment. 22% of antibiotic prophylaxis, 39% of primary antibiotic treatments and 29% of secondary antibiotic treatments were considered inappropriate.


CONCLUSIONS
The too liberal use of antibiotics during and after surgery is largely due to the surgeon's fear of infectious complications. Only a peer-review process of all antibiotic prescriptions can reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Gerber
M
M
HNO-Universitätsklinik Basel.
Flückiger
U
U
Wolfensberger
M
M
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D010380:Peer Review; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control