Antibiotic prophylaxis in paediatric cardiothoracic surgery

General Principles for prescribing:

• Administer the dose of pre-operative IV antibiotic prophylaxis within the 60 minutes prior to skin incision/intervention.
• Administer antibiotic doses intravenously and NOT into the cardiac bypass circuit or arterial line.
• To reduce the risk of post-operative drug errors, prescribe antibiotics on the ‘Once Only’ section of the drug Kardex and also on the anaesthetic record.
• Seek Microbiology or ID opinion for patients on existing antimicrobial therapy or with complex microbiological problems.
• Follow RHC Glasgow monographs or Medusa monograph for drug reconstitution and administration.
• For patients with a history of teicoplanin resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus please discuss with Microbiology
• Ongoing use of antibiotics for delayed chest closures is not warranted, except at time of exploration/closure as outlined below