"Stop antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery" warns a free Surgical Care Improvement Project poster developed by Delmarva Foundation and adapted and assembled by the Information & Quality Healthcare not-for-profit corporation under contract with CMS.
The reason to do such, as the poster states, is that prolonged administration does increase the risk of c. difficile infection and the development of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. In addition, taking preventive antibiotics for more than 24 hours after routine surgery is usually not necessary.
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The poster also provides contact information for a SCIP project leader at IQH.
Download the IQH's stop antibiotics poster (PDF) and use it to help educate your staff members and patients about antibiotic usage after surgery.
More Patient Safety Tools:
Hand Hygiene and Glove Use Monitoring Form
5 Safe Injection Practices Posters
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Program Assessment