Adverse financial and clinical burden of the use of prophylactic antibiotics in neurosurgical patients.

ABSTRACT

Background: Current guidance does not support the administration of prophylactic antibiotics in non-infected post-operative surgical cases including neurosurgery. Materials and methods: This paper is a qualitative assessment, highlighting the economic cost of excessive antimicrobial prescription and the healthcare costs of the extra days of admission in hospital. Results: One hundred and one neurosurgical cases were analysed in a single institution over a one-year period. The additional course of post-operative antibiotics has a cost of £56.72 and receiving prolonged post-operative antibiotics added on average £1121.10 to their admission bill. Up to 13.4 patients may have experienced an adverse drug event. Conclusion: This paper reinforces the adherence to guidelines can aid in the reduction of adverse drug events, improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs associated with unnecessary drug prescriptions and administration.