Principles of antibiotic use in surgery
Subject Areas : Veterinary Soft and Hard Tissue Surgery
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Keywords: Prophylactic antibiotic, Therapeutic antibiotic, Surgery, Antibiotic resistance,
Abstract :
Background: A review of the principles of antibiotic use in surgery
Objectives: Explain the principles of antibiotic use in surgery
Methods: A literature review using various publications related to the use of antibiotics in surgery
Results: Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections. These drugs are divided into different groups based on their origin, spectrum of effect, clinical application and mechanism of action. Antibiotics are used in surgery for prevention of surgical site infections or treatment of established infections. Classification of surgeries into clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated and dirty procedures is considered the most important factor in choosing the type of antibiotic use. Antibiotics are not required for clean surgeries except in certain circumstances. Prophylactic antibiotics are used in clean-contaminated and contaminated surgeries to prevent postoperative infection. In dirty surgeries with an established infection, these drugs are used therapeutically. Prophylactic antibiotics are administered intravenously before the start of surgery to create a therapeutic concentration in the target tissues and prevent their infection. Therefore, drugs that can be injected intravenously are used for prophylaxis. Also, antibiotics are selected based on the natural flora of target tissues or operative site. Prophylactic drug administration is stopped at the end of the operation or continues up to 24 hours after the operation. Therapeutic use of antibiotics is started before surgery and continues during and after the operation until complete treatment of infection. Antibiotics are selected based on microbial culture and determination of antibiotic sensitivity. Presently, the use of novel methods has allowed topical application of antibiotics in surgery. This review article describes general characteristics of antibiotics and explains principles of their prophylactic and therapeutic use in surgery.
Conclusions: Antibiotics should be used judiciously to prevent antibiotic resistance while increasing their effectiveness in prevention and treatment of infections.
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