Antibiotics After Joint Replacement
The use of antibiotics after joint surgery can be divided into two time periods:
It has been well known for many years that the use of antibiotics at the time of surgery prevents infections. The exact antibiotic and the length of time after surgery is left up to some discussion but in general, giving what is called a "broad spectrum" antibiotic" at least 15 minutes before the incision followed by at least 3 doses or 24 hours of antibiotics is adequate. Some surgeons use a once a day antibiotic, some use a 3 times a day type of drug and others extend the antibiotics out to 2 days. All are proper.
After the first 48 hours there generally is no need for further antibiotics. If your wound is draining, some surgeons restart antibiotics with the idea that the drainage should be sterilized and an infection may be prevented. There is no real proof that this works or not. It is common practice though. it is not wrong to do it and it is not wrong to not do it.
After joint surgery, a wide range of procedures can happen to patients. This includes colonoscopy, cystoscopy, dental work, etc. Every joint surgeon I know has a list of the procedures that need antibiotics before and after. You must contact your own surgeon for this list as it is always changing. In general- dental cleaning and any dental work is the most dangerous.
General guidelines form the Orthopaedic Academy and the Dental Academy is that you need these antibiotics around certain procedures for up to two years after surgery.
Dr. K.
Related Topics: Need New Knees? There's Better Metal in Joint Surgery (WebMD Video), Arthritis and Knee Surgery: A New Twist
Technorati Tags: joint surgery, antibiotics, post-surgery antibiotics
- Around surgery
- After surgery at particular times
It has been well known for many years that the use of antibiotics at the time of surgery prevents infections. The exact antibiotic and the length of time after surgery is left up to some discussion but in general, giving what is called a "broad spectrum" antibiotic" at least 15 minutes before the incision followed by at least 3 doses or 24 hours of antibiotics is adequate. Some surgeons use a once a day antibiotic, some use a 3 times a day type of drug and others extend the antibiotics out to 2 days. All are proper.
After the first 48 hours there generally is no need for further antibiotics. If your wound is draining, some surgeons restart antibiotics with the idea that the drainage should be sterilized and an infection may be prevented. There is no real proof that this works or not. It is common practice though. it is not wrong to do it and it is not wrong to not do it.
After joint surgery, a wide range of procedures can happen to patients. This includes colonoscopy, cystoscopy, dental work, etc. Every joint surgeon I know has a list of the procedures that need antibiotics before and after. You must contact your own surgeon for this list as it is always changing. In general- dental cleaning and any dental work is the most dangerous.
General guidelines form the Orthopaedic Academy and the Dental Academy is that you need these antibiotics around certain procedures for up to two years after surgery.
Dr. K.
Related Topics: Need New Knees? There's Better Metal in Joint Surgery (WebMD Video), Arthritis and Knee Surgery: A New Twist
Technorati Tags: joint surgery, antibiotics, post-surgery antibiotics
