Administration of antibiotic prophylaxis more than 120 minutes before incision or after incision is associated a higher risk of surgical site infections than administration less than 120 minutes before incision .
Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the effect of timing of preoperative surgical antibiotic prophylaxis ( SAP ) on  surgical site infection ( SSI )  and compare the different timing intervals .
The benefit of routine use of SAP prior to surgery has long been recognized .
However , the optimal timing has not been defined .
Cephalothin prophylaxis in cardiac valve surgery. A prospective, double-blind comparison of two-day and six-day regimens.
A prospect i ve , double-blind study comparing a 6 day with a 2 day regimen of cephalothin prophylaxis was conducted among 200 patients undergoing prosthetic valve replacement . No cases of endocarditis occurred during the 2 month follow-up . Sternal wound infection developed in 2.8 per cent of the 6 day group and 2.1 per cent of the 2 day group . Pneumonia developed in 8.5 per cent of the 6 day and 5.3 per cent of the 2 day group ; most of the bacteria isolated were susceptible to cephalothin .  Urinary tract infection developed more frequently in the 2 day group ( 17.0 versus 8.5 per cent ) , particularly during the first 6 postoperative days . Three of 11 patients with no detectable cephalothin in their sera at the close of operation developed staphylococcal wound infections , compared with 2 of 175 patients whose sera contained cephalothin at the close of surgery ( p = 0.002 , Fisher 's exact test ) . A short course of prophylactic antibiotics is prudent , but there is no justification for prolonging their administration
Administration of antibiotic prophylaxis more than 120 minutes before incision or after incision is associated a higher risk of surgical site infections than administration less than 120 minutes before incision .
Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the effect of timing of preoperative surgical antibiotic prophylaxis ( SAP ) on  surgical site infection ( SSI )  and compare the different timing intervals .
The benefit of routine use of SAP prior to surgery has long been recognized .
However , the optimal timing has not been defined .