[On the German S3 guideline on perioperative and periinterventional antibiotic prophylaxis]

In December 2024, the German S3 guideline on perioperative and periinterventional antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) was published after years of interdisciplinary collaboration. This guideline was developed with the involvement of a delegation from the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, because it is particularly important for our medical specialty: in interdisciplinary comparison, otorhinolaryngologists traditionally prescribe a relatively high number of antibiotics in perioperative settings. The S3 guideline is based on randomized controlled trials and review articles evaluated by the Robert Koch Institute using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The aim of this CME article is to present the S3 guideline with a focus on the indications for PAP, its duration, risk assessment, and selection of the appropriate antibiotic. Practical application examples and a dosage table further illustrate these points.