Error in antibiotic recommendations

AORN Journal,  April, 2007  by Stephen P. Kelley

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You have published a serious error in the January 2007 AORN Journal (Improving compliance with prophylactic antibiotic guidelines," vol 85). The table on page 177 indicates that 100 mg cefazolin administered subconjunctivally is the recommended antibiotic prophylaxis for all ophthalmic procedures. This is incorrect. Please refer to the Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter from April 2004 (1) and December 2006. (2) What you should have published is "there is no consensus supporting a particular choice, route, or duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis." (1(p31),2(p87))

The incorrect antibiotic recommendation that you have published may be misinterpreted as the standard of care for ophthalmic surgical procedures and could be misused by lawyers in malpractice cases, hospital or ambulatory surgery center surgical review committees, or credentialing organizations like Medicare or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

STEPHEN P. KELLEY

MD

OPHTHALMIC SURGERY

BROWNWOOD, TEX

References

(1.) Antibiotic prophylaxis for surgery. Treat Guidel Med Lett. 2004;2:27-32.

(2.) Antibiotic prophylaxis for surgery. Treat Guidel Med Lett. 2006;4:83-88.

Editor's response. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The Journal regrets the error.

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