Vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis?
The increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has resulted in a reevaluation of the role of vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis. Two systematic reviews of randomized control studies have concluded that cephalosporins are as effective as vancomycin for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, most of these studies were conducted more than 10 years ago and cannot be generalized to the current rates of MRSA. Several time-series analyses have recently evaluated the effectiveness of vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis in institutions with a high prevalence of MRSA. Decision analysis models have also been used to estimate thresholds of MRSA prevalence for which vancomycin would minimize the incidence and cost of SSIs. Combination therapy and the emergence of resistant pathogens following vancomycin prophylaxis are reviewed. Vancomycin is not recommended for routine use in surgical prophylaxis but may be considered as a component of a MRSA prevention bundle for SSIs in selective circumstances.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7230, USA.
Tonya
T
Crawford
Keith A
KA
Rodvold
Joseph S
JS
Solomkin
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin