Prophylactic antibiotic project.

Abstract

This project evaluated the use of prophylactic antibiotics within two hours prior to selected surgical procedures. Even with knee arthroplasty, for which there is essentially universal agreement on the need for prophylactic antibiotics, there is room for improvement in antibiotic delivery. This is true both in the percent of patients receiving antibiotics and the timeliness of administration. Although there is some difference of opinion about the advisability of prophylactic antibiotics for certain procedures, the preponderance of recent literature advocates its use and this is a quality indicator evaluated by JCAHO.