Antibiotic prophylaxis for paediatric cardiothoracic surgery

General principals for prescribing:

• Administer the pre-operative IV prophylaxis dose within 60 minutes prior to skin incision/intervention.
• Administer antibiotic doses intravenously and NOT into the cardiac bypass circuit.
• 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 for drug reconstitution and administration.