[Antibiotic prophylaxis in visceral and urologic pædiatric surgery]

Surgical site infections are the leading cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality as well as increased costs following surgery. Among preventive measures, antibiotic prophylaxis significantly decreases this risk. Adult guidelines have recently been published. Specific pædiatric data are scarce, but adult recommendations can be used by extrapolation except for the neonates. For procedures that may warrant antimicrobial prophylaxis, agents of choice are first-generation cephalosporins who are not currently used in curative treatment, like cefazolin, with an appropriate dosing. A single perioperative dose of antibiotics is often sufficient. Continuation for more than 24 hours is rarely advised.