Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Optimizing perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis: a prospective cohort study on cefazolin utilization in surgical patients with penicillin allergy labels
Authors' conclusion
Antibiotic stewardship based on consensus guidelines led to a significant increase in cefazolin usage in patients with penicillin allergy labels.
Study context
- Population
- Non-pregnant adults (≥ 18 years) with penicillin allergy labels undergoing surgery where cefazolin was indicated for prophylaxis
- Participants
- 574 adults
- Exposure
- Post-education vs pre-education cohort
- Retrospectiven = 236reference
- Prospectiven = 338
- Outcome
- Cefazolin utilization
Methodological detailsbefore-after educational intervention
- Before-after educational intervention
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cefazolin utilisation
Cefazolin administration significantly increased from 38% to 58% during the study period
89/236 vs. 196/338
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Safety
Surgical site infection · within 30 days of surgery · no significant difference
P = 0.23
Allergic reactions to cefazolin
- No evidence of allergic reactions to cefazolin; documented epinephrine use accounted for by non-allergic indications
Original publication
Optimizing perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis: a prospective cohort study on cefazolin utilization in surgical patients with penicillin allergy labels. Perioper Med (Lond). Published 2 December 2025. doi:10.
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