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 .
Risk factors for surgical-wound infection in general surgery: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE To quantify surgical-infection rate , to assess adherence with the antibiotic prophylaxis protocol , and to identify independent factors associated with surgical-wound infection ( SWI ) . METHODS We carried out a prospect i ve study of a cohort of 2,237 general surgery patients with postsurgery stays of more than 48 hours .  Odds ratios ( OR ) were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression . SETTING A 1,300-bed , university-affiliated , tertiary-care hospital in Madrid , Spain . RESULTS 254 patients developed SWI .  The rate of adherence to the antibiotic prophylaxis protocol  was 63.5 % . Eight factors were independently associated with risk of SWI : age ( OR = 1.2 for every 10 years of age ) ; wound classification ( clean-contaminated , OR = 6.4 ; contaminated , OR = 3.7 ; dirty or infected , OR = 9.3 ) ; antimicrobial prophylaxis ( OR = 0.5 ) ; stay prior to surgery ( OR = 1.1 for every 3 days ) ; duration of operation ( OR = 1.5 for every 60 minutes ) ; malignant neoplasm ( OR = 1.7 ) ; emergency procedure ( OR = 1.99 ) ; intensive-care unit stay prior to surgery ( OR = 2.6 ) ; and antimicrobial prophylaxis administered 2 or more hours before operation ( OR = 5.3 ) . CONCLUSION In general , antimicrobial prophylaxis protects against SWI ( OR = 0.5 ) ; however , administration 2 hours or more before the operation increases the risk of SWI by a factor of 5.3 . Therefore , measures should be taken to ensure the correct timing of antimicrobial prophylaxis
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 .