Prior to now, antibiotics were given often before, during and after to prevent infection, however research has found “no evidence that continuing antibiotics after a patient’s incision has been closed, even if it has drains, prevents surgical site infections.” Rather, it actually increases a patients’ risk for contracting Clostridioides difficile — which can cause severe diarrhea.
On top of that, continuing to administer antibiotics afterward also increases the risk for antimicrobial resistance — which has been deemed a growing problem across the globe by the World Health Organization.
The new guidance was determined through a collaboration between the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the American Hospital Association and The Joint Commission.
