A sample of drugs prescribed for a patient. World Health Organisation
has advised doctors against giving antibiotic drugs to patients after
surgery. PHOTO | FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
This
is according to an advisory by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that
said taking antibiotics 24 hours after routine surgery can increase the
risk of side-effects such as stomach ulcers, serious diarrhoea and
antibiotic resistance.
The guidelines also recommend
that antibiotics should be taken before and during surgery to prevent
infection and not afterwards.
“Sooner or later many of
us will need surgery, but none of us wants to pick up an infection on
the operating table,” said Dr Ed Kelley, director of WHO’s Department of
Service Delivery and Safety.
“By applying these new
guidelines surgical teams can reduce harm, improve quality of life and
do their bit to stop the spread of antibiotic resistance,” said Dr
Kelley.
Titled Global Guidelines for the Prevention of
Surgical Site Infection, the advisory was first published in the Lancet
Infectious Diseases journal on March 6.
PREVENTING SURGICAL INFECTIONS
It
is designed to address the increasing burden of healthcare-associated
infections on both patients and healthcare systems globally.
“No
one should get sick while seeking or receiving care,” said Dr Kelley.
“Preventing surgical infections has never been more important but it is
complex and requires a range of preventive measures.
“These guidelines are an invaluable tool for protecting patients.”
He
said doctors should stop giving prevent preventative antibiotics within
24 hours after surgery to avoid side-effects and other problems
associated with antibiotic use.
“There is tendency of doctors giving antibiotics immediately after surgery to relieve pain,” said Dr Kelley. “This is wrong; it is the main cause of many problems we develop.”
“There is tendency of doctors giving antibiotics immediately after surgery to relieve pain,” said Dr Kelley. “This is wrong; it is the main cause of many problems we develop.”
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
He added that when antibiotics are used too much, they will not work anymore; instead they kill.
The
new WHO guidelines are valid for any country and suitable to local
adaptations and take account of the strength of available scientific
evidence, the cost and resource implications and patient values and
preferences. They aim at saving lives, cutting costs and arresting the
spread of superbugs.
Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections.
Antibiotic
resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these
medicines. Resistance develops naturally over time but misuse of
antibiotics in humans and animals is rapidly accelerating the process.
No comments :
Post a Comment