Prophylaxis
This article introduces prophylaxis and the common uses of aminoglycosides such as gentamicin in this way.
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Antibiotic prophylaxis is defined as the preventative administration of antibiotics to avoid/prevent infections in certain situations.
One common use of prophylaxis therapy is in the prevention of infection prior to surgical procedures of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal areas. The patient is given aminoglycosides prior to surgery to prevent or lower the risk of enterococcal bacteraemia. Gentamicin, the most commonly used aminoglycoside, is also used as prophylaxis for joint replacement surgery.
In the next step, we will discuss risks and adverse effects.
© BSAC
This article is from the online course:
Optimise Aminoglycoside Use in Clinical Practice
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This article is from the free online
Optimise Aminoglycoside Use in Clinical Practice
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