Antibiotics more than 24 hours after surgery a ‘waste’
Extended-course prophylaxis is associated with a higher risk of adverse events: study
Antibiotics given prophylactically for 24 hours or less are as effective as those given for 72 hours for preventing infections following ENT or oral and maxillofacial surgery, a review shows.
Most guidelines favour short-course postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis over prolonged prophylaxis, because little or no additional anti-infective benefits have been seen in lengthier regimens, the authors note.
