Related Experiment Videos
[Basic aspects of the preventive use of antibiotics in general surgery]
1Department Chirurgie, Universitätsspitals Zürich.
Insights
Antibiotic prophylaxis before surgery ensures adequate tissue drug levels during contamination. First and second generation cephalosporins are recommended, especially for abdominal procedures.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Infection Prevention
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Microbiology
Context:
- Prophylactic antibiotics are crucial in preventing surgical site infections.
- Administration timing and drug selection are key to effective prophylaxis.
- Current guidelines recommend specific antibiotic classes for various surgical procedures.
Purpose:
- To define the role and recommendations for prophylactic antibiotic use in surgery.
- To highlight appropriate antibiotic classes and indications.
- To differentiate prophylaxis from therapeutic antibiotic administration.
Summary:
- Prophylactic antibiotics are administered before surgery to maintain therapeutic tissue concentrations.
- First and second generation cephalosporins are recommended, particularly for abdominal surgery.
- In abdominal surgery, aminoglycosides combined with anaerobic agents are frequently used.
Impact:
- Optimizing prophylactic antibiotic strategies can reduce surgical site infections.
- Standardizing antibiotic selection improves patient outcomes and combats antimicrobial resistance.
- Clear definitions prevent misuse of antibiotics, reserving them for appropriate indications.
Abstract:
Antibiotics are administered prophylactically before operation (at induction of anesthesia) in order to achieve sufficient tissue concentrations when contamination happens. Antibiotic prophylaxis is usually given as a single dose. It is clearly indicated in abdominal surgery. It is also recognized in association with the use of prosthesis in cardiac, vascular, and bone surgery although there is no proven benefit. According to definition, administration of antibiotics in a perforated hollow viscus or an open fracture is not a prophylaxis. First and second generation cephalosporines are recommended for prophylactic use. In abdominal surgery, aminoglycosides too, combined with a drug directed against anaerobic bacteria are widely used.