Prophylactic antibiotics in pediatric surgery.

The frequency and appropriateness of prophylactic antibiotic use in children less than 6 years of age who received surgery were examined. Antibiotics were prescribed for 62% of children who had surgery, and prophylaxis was the sole reason for antibiotic use in 73% of the patients. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered inappropriately with respect to timing or duration to 42% of the children receiving preoperative prophylaxis, 67% receiving intraoperative prophylaxis, and 55% receiving postoperative prophylaxis. Thus, prophylaxis alone is the major indication for antibiotic use in pediatric surgical patients, and prophylactic antibiotics are frequently administered inappropriately.