Antimicrobial prophylaxis in adults

Antimicrobial prophylaxis is used by clinicians for the prevention of numer ous infections, including sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodefici ency virus infection, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, recurrent cellulitis, meningococcal disease, recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis, influe nza, malaria, infective endocarditis, pertussis, plague, anthrax, early-ons et group B streptococcal disease in neonates, and animal bite wounds. Certa in opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in immun ocompromised patients also can be effectively prevented nith primary antimi crobial prophylaxis, Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis is recommended for various surgical procedures to prevent surgical site infection, Optima l antimicrobial agents for prophylaxis are bactericidal, nontoxic, inexpens ive, and active against the typical pathogens that cause surgical site infe ction postoperatively, To maximize its effectiveness, intravenous periopera tive prophylaxis should be given within 30 to 60 minutes before the time of surgical incision, Antibiotic prophylaxis should be of short duration to d ecrease toxicity, antimicrobial resistance, and excess cost.