Open AccessAntimicrobial prophylaxis in adult cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
Author(s) -
James Ackah,
Louise Neal,
N. R. Marshall,
Pedram Panahi,
Clinton Lloyd,
Luke Rogers
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of infection prevention
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.43
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1757-1774
pISSN - 1757-1782
DOI - 10.1177/1757177420971850
Subject(s) - medicine , flucloxacillin , teicoplanin , cefuroxime , antimicrobial , penicillin , cephalosporin , incidence (geometry) , gentamicin , antibiotic prophylaxis , surgery , intensive care medicine , antibiotics , staphylococcus aureus , vancomycin , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , optics , biology , bacteria , genetics
Deep sternal wound infections are a financially costly complication of cardiac surgery with serious implications for patient morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic antimicrobials have been shown to reduce the incidence of infection significantly. In 2018, the European Association for CardioThoracic Surgery (EACTS) provided clear guidance advising that third-generation cephalosporins are the first-line prophylactic antimicrobial of choice for cardiac surgery via median sternotomy as a result of their broad spectrum of activity and association with reduced postoperative mortality. Despite this guidance, it was believed that UK practice differed from this as a consequence of national concerns surrounding cephalosporins use and Clostridioides difficile infection.