the use off antibiotics after surgery withut infection? (pain, implants, skin)

[emma91172]

hi can anyone shed some light please? my husband had hart surgery 2 wks ago he has been on antibiotics since but now infection has been ruled out? his white cells are up but there not stopping them, im very confused, can anyone please help?

[MaryleeII]

Antibiotics are routinely prescribed after most surgeries, to prevent an infection later. A large part of the body has been opened up and exposed to the air. Even though they do their best to keep operating rooms, equipment, and their hands clean, something might slip in. The "inside" of the body isn't used to defending itself against stuff that the skin normally keeps out.

A 1-2 week course of antibiotics is standard, your dh should complete ALL of them. You certainly don't want an infection in the heart!

[bluedevilz]

Not true, antibiotics are NOT routinely used after surgery unless there is reason to suspect infection.

Antibiotics won't "prevent" an infection only treat an existing infection. Orthopaedic surgery involving implants typically is preceded by a single dose of IV antibiotics prior to the skin incision but NO antibiotics after surgery.

A 2 week course of antibiotics after surgery is not standard of care.

[ToucheGA]

An elevated white blood cell count can possibly indicate an infection. You need to discuss this with his physician.

[AnonChick]

Originally Posted by bluedevilz

Not true, antibiotics are NOT routinely used after surgery unless there is reason to suspect infection.

Antibiotics won't "prevent" an infection only treat an existing infection. Orthopaedic surgery involving implants typically is preceded by a single dose of IV antibiotics prior to the skin incision but NO antibiotics after surgery.

A 2 week course of antibiotics after surgery is not standard of care.

The OP is talking about heart surgery, not orthopedic surgery. I've had plates screwed onto my radius and ulna, a steel rod inserted down my femur, had all three of these devices removed once the healing process was complete, had arthroscopic surgery on my knee, and have -not- received antibiotics for any of it.

However, my dad, my ex-boss, an aunt, a cousin, and the guy at the library all had heart surgery of various types, and all had routine antibiotic therapy following surgery. This is typical especially with implants, to prevent the body from rejecting the implant, and is part of the healing process -following- the surgery, since the body can't reject something that hasn't been put there yet.

[texdav]

You need to ask hus doctor(s) this question as no one here can give you a definite answer ;really

[MaryleeII]

Originally Posted by bluedevilz

Not true, antibiotics are NOT routinely used after surgery unless there is reason to suspect infection.

Antibiotics won't "prevent" an infection only treat an existing infection. Orthopaedic surgery involving implants typically is preceded by a single dose of IV antibiotics prior to the skin incision but NO antibiotics after surgery.

A 2 week course of antibiotics after surgery is not standard of care.

Hmmm....guess all my doctors were quacks?

Or possibly antibiotics are now on the $hit list? I've had quite a bit of orthopedic surgery, too, and don't feel like listing them. the major cause of artificial joint failure is infection, immediately after surgey and years after. Anytime I even have routind dental work done I'm given antibiotics, usually 1-2 days worth.


It used to be, you could get antibiotics, but pain pills were seen as some great evil, a moral weakness, etc. Now its just the opposite. They literally throw pain meds at you, but try asking for an antibiotic and they look at you like you're some sort of werido!