General Surgery

Answer 1 Discontinue antibiotics 48 hours postoperatively. As a result of a forum held by National Surgical Infection Prevention project leaders, consensus was reached regarding antibiotic selection, timing, and duration for select types of surgery. It is recommended that IV antibiotics used to prevent surgical site infection should be given within 1 hour before surgery and should not be used for more than 24 hours postoperatively. In addition, prophylactic antibiotics should be selected for various procedures based on pathogens likely to be encountered. Re-dosing of antibiotics (not only cephalosporins) during surgery is recommended for long procedures or for patients with blood loss or a large amount of fluid administration. Antibiotics should not be administered after the wound is closed unless there is suspicion of contamination, at which point the duration of therapy should not exceed 24 hours.1 REFERENCE 1. Bratzler DW, Houck PM. Antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgery: an advisory statement from the National Surgical Infection Project. Clin Infect Dis 2004;38:1706-15. Click here to return to the questions

Hospital Physician     JCOM     Seminars in Medical Practice Hospital Physician Board Review Manuals About TWC    Subscribe    Contact TWC    Home    Search   Site Map Copyright © 2009, Turner White Communications Updated 1/04/08 • kkj