A standardized protocol for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is associated with improvement of timing and...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Infection Prevention
• Pharmacoeconomics
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) guidelines vary widely, impacting drug selection, dosage, and timing.
• Inconsistent PAP practices can lead to suboptimal outcomes and increased healthcare costs.
• Standardization of PAP protocols is crucial for improving patient care and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a uniform guideline for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP).
• To evaluate the impact of the guideline on the timing and cost of PAP.
• To assess changes in antibiotic agent selection and administration practices.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study design was used, observing PAP practices before and after guideline implementation.
• Data collected included antibiotic choice, dosage, and timing of administration in a random sample of surgical procedures.
• Statistical analysis (P-value = 0.002) was performed to determine the significance of observed changes.

Main Results:

• Before the intervention, 153 procedures showed varied antibiotic use (8 agents) with 20% of PAP given post-incision.
• After implementation, 147 procedures utilized fewer agents (3) with all PAP administered correctly.
• A significant reduction in post-incision PAP administration from 20% to 7% was observed (P=0.002).

Conclusions:

• A uniform, simple, and clear PAP protocol leads to improved antibiotic dosing and timing.
• Implementation of the modified PAP protocol resulted in significant quality improvements.
• The study demonstrated substantial cost savings, with a net annual reduction of at least $112,000.