Antibiotic stewardship in orthopaedic surgery: principles and practice

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• High-quality orthopaedic surgical care necessitates a strong understanding of antibiotic stewardship principles.
• Antibiotic resistance and evolving pathogens require tailored prophylactic strategies.
• Multidisciplinary antibiotic stewardship programs are essential for optimizing antimicrobial use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the core principles of antibiotic stewardship in orthopaedic surgery.
• To highlight the role of multidisciplinary teams in guiding antibiotic selection and dosage.
• To emphasize the importance of antibiotic stewardship in reducing infectious complications and combating resistance.

Main Methods:

• Review of established antibiotic stewardship principles.
• Discussion of the components of effective antibiotic stewardship programs.
• Emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to antibiotic management.

Main Results:

• Key principles include appropriate indications, pathogen-based selection, correct dosage, and optimal duration.
• Stewardship programs utilize multidisciplinary staff for guidance and active surveillance.
• Judicious antibiotic use can reduce infections like Clostridium difficile and drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Conclusions:

• A multidisciplinary approach to antibiotic stewardship is crucial for high-quality orthopaedic care.
• Tailored prophylactic regimens are necessary due to antibiotic resistance and diverse pathogens.
• Effective antibiotic stewardship improves patient outcomes and promotes cost-effective medical care.