Forsyth Medical Center

Preventive antibiotic one hour before incision

Administering an antibiotic within one hour before surgery reduces the risk of wound infections for the patient. The hospital should verify that surgery patients receive antibiotics at the right time.

Why this is important:

Antibiotics are medicines to prevent and treat infections. Research shows that surgery patients who receive antibiotics within the hour before their operation are less likely to sustain wound infections. Administering an antibiotic earlier, or after surgery begins, is not as effective.

The chart above indicates the percentage of hospitals that ensure that surgery patients get antibiotics at the right time.