Which of the following medications is administered to a patient preoperatively to prevent infections?

Appeared in: JIPMER Nursing Officer - 2020

Explanation

Antibiotics are administered prophylactically (as a preventive measure) before a surgical procedure.
The primary purpose is to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria that may enter the body during surgery.
Clinical practice guidelines recommend administering the antibiotic within 60 minutes before the surgical incision to ensure optimal drug concentration in the tissues.

Option A: Antihypertensives are used to manage blood pressure and do not have antimicrobial properties to prevent infections.
Option C: Antitussives are cough suppressants and are not related to the prevention of surgical infections.
Option D: Antiemetics are administered to prevent nausea and vomiting, not to prevent infections.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Prophylaxis to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Preventing Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) is a major patient safety goal. SSIs are considered a 'never event' by many healthcare systems, meaning they are largely preventable and their occurrence can impact hospital reimbursement.
The nurse's role is critical in verifying patient allergies, ensuring the antibiotic is administered at the correct time as per the surgeon's order, and accurately documenting the administration.
What if? If the patient has a documented allergy to the ordered antibiotic (e.g., penicillin), the nurse must hold the medication and immediately notify the surgeon and anesthesia provider to obtain an order for a suitable alternative (e.g., clindamycin or vancomycin).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'prevent infections'.
This immediately directs your thinking toward medications with antimicrobial properties.
Next, evaluate each option based on its primary pharmacological function.
An 'antibiotic' is by definition a drug used to treat or prevent bacterial infections.
'Antihypertensives' manage blood pressure, 'antitussives' suppress cough, and 'antiemetics' prevent vomiting.
By matching the function to the question's goal, it becomes clear that only antibiotics are used for infection prevention in a surgical context.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 6 pp. 184-186, 186-188, 174-176

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