Benefits , harms , and costs Guideline implementation should result in a reduction of cost and related harm of administering antibiotics when not required and a reduction of infection and related morbidities when antibiotics have demonstrated a proven benefit .
Abstract Objective To review the evidence and provide recommendations on antibiotic prophylaxis for gynaecologic procedures .
Outcomes Outcomes evaluated include need and effectiveness of antibiotics to prevent infections in gynaecologic procedures .
Use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for major surgery: baseline results from the National Surgical Infection Prevention Project.
HYPOTHESIS  Surgical site infections ( SSIs ) are a major contributor to patient injury , mortality , and health care costs . Despite evidence of effectiveness of antimicrobials to prevent SSIs , previous studies have demonstrated inappropriate timing , selection , and excess duration of administration of antimicrobial prophylaxis . We herein describe the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for Medicare patients undergoing major surgery . DESIGN National retrospective cohort study with medical record review . SETTING Two thous and nine hundred sixty-five acute-care US hospitals . PATIENTS A systematic r and om sample of 34,133 Medicare in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting ; other open-chest cardiac surgery ( excluding transplantation ) ; vascular surgery , including aneurysm repair , thromboendarterectomy , and vein bypass operations ; general abdominal colorectal surgery ; hip and knee total joint arthroplasty ( excluding revision surgery ) ; and abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy from January 1 through November 30 , 2001 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The proportion of patients who had parenteral antimicrobial prophylaxis  initiated within 1 hour before the surgical incision ; the proportion of patients who were given a prophylactic antimicrobial agent  that was consistent with currently published guidelines ; and the proportion of patients whose antimicrobial prophylaxis was discontinued within 24 hours after surgery . RESULTS An antimicrobial dose was administered to 55.7 % ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 54.8%-56.6 % ) of patients within 1 hour before incision .  Antimicrobial agents consistent with published guidelines were administered to 92.6 % ( 95 % CI , 92.3%-92.8 % ) of the patients .  Antimicrobial prophylaxis was discontinued within 24 hours of surgery end time for only 40.7 % ( 95 % CI , 40.2%-41.2 % ) of patients . CONCLUSION Substantial opportunities exist to improve the use of prophylactic antimicrobials for patients undergoing major surgery
Benefits , harms , and costs Guideline implementation should result in a reduction of cost and related harm of administering antibiotics when not required and a reduction of infection and related morbidities when antibiotics have demonstrated a proven benefit .
Abstract Objective To review the evidence and provide recommendations on antibiotic prophylaxis for gynaecologic procedures .
Outcomes Outcomes evaluated include need and effectiveness of antibiotics to prevent infections in gynaecologic procedures .