National study on the utilization of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery, Belgium, 1986

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 103; no. 2; pp. 311 - 322
• Main Authors: Mertens, R., Verbist, L., Gordts, B., Lauwers, S., Potvliege, C., Reybrouck, G., Verschraegen, G., Wauters, G., Berghmans, L., Dondeyne, F., Stroobant, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.1989
• Subjects: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotic prophylaxis; Antibiotics; Antimicrobials; Bacterial Infections - prevention & control; Belgium; Biological and medical sciences; Epidemiology; Hospital utilization rate; Humans; Infections; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Predisposing factors; Premedication; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical procedures; Surgical specialties; Teaching hospitals; Belgium; Infection; Prevention; Antibiotic; Belgium; Medical prescription; Europe; Surgery; Complication
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268800030673

During the last week of May 1986, a 1-week prospective study on antibiotic utilization in surgical patients was held in 104 (42%) of the 247 Belgian acute care hospitals. All surgical patients with a post-operative stay of at least 3 days were studied, involving 3112 patients. Each patient was observed for 7 days, starting from the day before surgery. Antibiotics were administered to 71·9% of all patients; 21·9% received therapeutic antibiotics and 52·9% prophylactic antibiotics; 2·9% received both. Of the 1285 patients undergoing a surgical procedure with no indication for antimicrobial prophylaxis, 50·7% nevertheless received prophylaxis; 92·8% of patients with a generally recognized indication for prophylaxis received antibiotic prophylaxis. Less than one fifth (17·1 %) of all prophylactic courses were stopped on the day of the intervention whilst 26·3% were continued up to the fifth post-operative day or beyond. The most frequently prescribed drugs for this indication included first and second generation cephalosporins and nitroimidazoles. The number of different generic drugs utilized per hospital ranged from 1 to 18 (mean: 7·7).