Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis

Surgical site infections (SSI’s) are the second most common adverse event occurring in hospitalized patients (Safe Care Campaign, 2016). Wound infections can cause major postoperative complications (i.e. longer hospital stays due to ineffective healing) (Lewis, 2014). Health care–associated infections (HAIs) are infections that are acquired from exposure to a microorganism in any health care is delivered setting (Lewis, 2014). Antibiotic prophylaxis before surgery may decrease the risk of bacterial infections post operatively (Lewis, 2014). Conclusion: antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of surgical site infections in post-op patients and should be used in all clean-contaminated procedures. Antibiotic prophylaxis should also be used in clean procedures where the risk for infection could have devastating consequences for the patient (Salkind & Rao, 2011). By using prophylactic antibiotics, we reduce the incidence of infection which leads to a reduction in length of stay and overall hospital costs. As stated by American Family Physician, “adherence to the core prevention measures may not reduce surgical site infections to the same degree as adherence to all of the measures,” indicating that further studies must be conducted to determine which combination of infection control measures are the most effective in reducing infection. With all details considered, antibiotic prophylaxis does indeed have a positive correlation with reduced incidences of surgical site infections however, antibiotic therapy alone is not enough to compensate for poor infection control (Sinha, Van Assen, & Freidrich, 2014). To ensure safe and accurate practice, it is imperative that we understand and follow the specific parameters and guidelines pertaining to the antibiotic of choice such as: duration of prophylaxis, dosage, timing of administration and adverse effects. As an adjunct to a timely antibiotic regime, we as nurses must also enforce additional infection control measures, such as hand hygiene and postoperative wound management, to further reduce the risk of primary infections in our post-surgical patients.