Antibiotic prophylaxis prior to procedures

[Rn2md]

After implantation of a hip device, some surgeons appear to recommend antibiotics prior to dental procedures, surgeries, or colonoscopies, (inclinometer my surgeon) whereas others don’t necessarily recommend routine prophylaxis.

It seems like a valid concept, but obviously many patients must mange fine without them.

There are sometimes harms with using antibiotics, IE pseudomembranous colitis, selecting for resistant organisms, although an infected joint prosthesis can also be devastating.

Anyone have any perspective or experience on this?

Just curious

[blinky]

My dentist is a very serious, nerdy guy and his initial reaction was skepticism. "There are no good studies that support this," he said. "It isn't done in Europe." But he called in a script for antibiotics and he has done so for the last three years. He deferred to my surgeon.

[John C]

Here is an interesting perspective. My surgeon is adamant about using prophylactic antibiotics, because he has seen how devastating that 1 or 2% risk can be. My decision was easier because my dentist had a hip replacement, and he strongly encouraged me to use antibiotics as he did.

[moe]

My surgeon required it for the rest of my life when I had my surgery but rescinded that about 2 years ago.

[catfriend]

A few weeks back I met a doctor who actually got the dreaded infection after a dental cleaning (not a hip resurfacing patient). He knew there was a slight risk, and that this happens a small percentage of the time, but didn't give it any more thought than that. He spent several weeks in the hospital, enduring open heart surgery and other procedures. He nearly died. So, yeah, it's rare, but it can happen. Even to other doctors. After having met him I will always make sure to take the antibiotics.