ANTIBIOTIC-PROPHYLAXIS IN SURGERY

Antibiotic prophylaxis prevents wound infections in a large number of surgical procedures. All too frequently, however, antibiotics are eith er not given or administered in a suboptimal fashion. The development and implemention of guidelines by healthcare institutions to ensure th at antibiotics are administered in accordance with accepted principles could reduce wound infections appreciably. The rising prevalence of m ultidrug-resistant microorganisms within the healthcare environment (s uch as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) has prompted resea rch into new ways to prevent surgical infection. One such strategy, th e augmentation of host defenses, is under evaluation and may eventuall y be useful in combination with antibiotic prophylaxis.