When do we have to start antibiotics to prevent post-operative infection?: (A) 2 days before surgery, (B) After surgery, (C) 1 week before surgery, (D) 1 hour before surgery & continue after surgery
Answer is D. Prophylactic antibiotics are administered before the skin incision is made. Repeat dosing occurs at an appropriate interval, usually 3 hours for abdominal cases or twice the half-life of the antibiotic.
Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis generally is not continued beyond the day of surgery.