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Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Surgery: General Concepts and Clinical Guidelines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Claude Martin*
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Hôpital Nord, Marseilles University Hospital System, Marseilles School of Medicine, Marseilles, France
*
Service de Réanimation, Hôpital Nord, 13915 Marseille Cedex 20, France

Abstract

Bacteria are found in 90% of surgical incisions, regardless of surgical technique or environment. Initially, the number of pathogens is low, but proliferation is facilitated by favorable local conditions and weakened host defense mechanisms. The principles of presurgical administration of antibiotics are well defined, but a few controversies persist. An ideal antimicrobial agent would not induce bacterial resistance in pathogenic organisms, would penetrate tissues effectively, would have a long enough half-life so that a single injection could guarantee protection throughout the operation, would have a low toxicity, would not interfere with anesthetics, would be easy to administer, and would be cost-effective.

Type
From the Third International Conference on the Prevention of Infection
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1994

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