Do not exceed 24 hours of antibiotic prophylaxis after surgery, the duration of prophylaxis should be as short as possible.

Do not exceed 24 hours of antibiotic prophylaxis after surgery, the duration of prophylaxis should be as short as possible.

Type of practice

Drugs

Age

Adult, Geriatric, Pediatric

Topic Area

Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care

The duration of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis should not exceed 24 hours. Many good quality studies have shown that antibiotic prophylaxis beyond 24 hours has no effect in reducing surgical site infections. The administration of additional prophylactic antibiotic doses after surgery exposes patients to an increased risk of adverse effects (e.g. renal failure, Clostridium difficile infection) and contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance.

Sources

1. Global guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018.
2. Nagata K, Yamada K, Shinozaki T, et al. Effect of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Duration on Health Care–Associated Infections After Clean Orthopedic Surgery: A Cluster Randomized Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2022;5:e226095.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017. JAMA Surg 2017;152:784–91.
4. De Chiara S, Chiumello D, Nicolini R, et al. Prolongation of antibiotic prophylaxis after clean and clean-contaminated surgery and surgical site infection. Minerva Anestesiol 2010;76:413-9.

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Attention. Please note that these items are provided only for information and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a clinician. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their clinician.