title: [Perioperative antibiotic therapy in thoracic surgery].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Germany no official guidelines exist for a specific perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) in thoracic surgery. In this review, data regarding the PAP as well as antibiotic therapy of the postoperative pneumonia (POP) in thoracic surgery are described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective literature researches were carried out in Medline with consideration of the official recommendations of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF) as well as Paul-Ehrlich-Gesellschaft für Chemotherapie e. V. (PEG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PAP is defined as a short and single application of an antibiotic agent preoperatively or during a surgical intervention. A PAP with first-generation or second-generation cephalosporins could significantly reduce the rate of surgical site infections after thoracic surgery. However, these few randomised trials could not demonstrate a distinct effect on the rate of POP and postoperative empyema. The incidence of POP is approximately 20-25 % after major thoracic surgery. Antibiotic therapy of POP should be performed early and be based on antibiotic sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the few prospective, randomised studies a single dose of intravenous PAP with a cephalosporin is recommended in thoracic surgery. Therapy of the POP should include general procedures combined with a specific antibiotic therapy according to antibiotic sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ried
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H-S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004653:Empyema / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins