Antibiotic administration in general surgical wards in Rasht university hospitals, 1996-98

Abstract

Objective: The correct use of antimicrobial agents is one of the important current issues in medicine. Increased emergence and spread of resistant bacteria are reasons for rational antibiotic therapy. Since antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs in surgery, this study was done to evaluate the suitable administration of antibiotics at surgical wards of two university hospitals in Rasht. Methods: This descriptive study was done on 1026 patients on the basis of the surgical infection society (SIS) directions during 1996-1998. Findings: 491 cases were operated as elective and 535 as emergency. Seven types of antibiotics were used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. In one-third of patients, the administered antibiotics were unsuitable and also in one-third of cases, the drug did not involve the causative organisms of infections. In 50% of cases, the duration of treatment was not according to correct directions. Conclusion: The results show that it is necessary to revise the use of antimicrobial agents in surgical operations.

Keywords

• antibiotics
• surgery
• infection