PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF PERIOPERATIVE ANT IBIOTIC-PROPHYLAXIS BY FRENCH ANESTHETISTS - A NATIONWIDE SURVEY

Antibiotics are the most prescribed drugs in Fench hospitals; in one t hird of cases they are used for antiobiotic prophylaxis in surgery. In spite of the guidelines for antibioprophylaxis produced in the last y ears, their prescription patterns remain still often inappropriate. Th is survey aimed to assess whether the prescription of antibiotics for prophylaxis by French anaesthetits complied with the French recommenda tions for antibioprophylaxis in surgery. It focused on the recommended agents, the time of the first injection, the duration of treatment. A sample of 1,473 anaesthetists participated in the survey. In 93% of c ases, the first injection of the antibiotic took place at anaesthesia induction, as specified by the recommendations. Cephalosporins of the first and second generation were often administered, as well as the as sociation amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. In contradiction with the recom mendations, the cephalosporins of the third generation were widely pre scribed in digestive and urological surgery, and the quinolones in uro logy and ophtalmology. The duration of treatment was restricted to 48 hours by 94% of anaesthetists. However there was a strong tendency to prolonge it in immunodepressed patients and in case of major surgery. This survey showed disparities between the French recommendations for antibioprophylaxis in surgery and the prescription patterns of anaesth etists. The lack of compliance occurred mainly for recent cephalospori ns and treatment duration of over 48 hours. It is concluded that a str onger adherence to the principles of antibioprophylaxis is required in surgical patients.