Explain Antimicrobial Prophylaxis

Antimicrobial prophylaxis can decrease the incidence of infection, particularly surgical site infection, after certain operations, but this benefit must be weighed against the risks of toxic and allergic reactions, emergence of resistant bacteria, adverse drug interactions, super infection and cost. Medical Letter consultants generally recommend antimicrobial prophylaxis only for procedures with high infection rates, those involving implantation of prosthetic material, and those in which the consequences of infection are likely to be especially serious. Recommendations for prevention of surgical site infection are listed in the table that begins on page 100. Recommendations for prevention of bacterial endocarditis in patients with valvular heart disease, prosthetic heart valves or other cardiac abnormalities are not included here.