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1: Cochlear Implants Int. 2008 Jun;9(2):82-9.Click here to read Links

Survey of prophylactic antibiotic use amongst UK cochlear implant surgeons.

Barker E, Pringle M.

South of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. emmabarker@doctors.org.uk

Cochlear implant patients are at an increased risk of pneumococcal meningitis. Recent government guidelines require all implant patients to undergo pneumococcal vaccination. The guidelines also suggest antibiotic prophylaxis but no clear guidelines regarding which antibiotic to use or for how long were issued.We asked each implant centre within the UK to describe their antibiotic protocol for cochlear implantation.Our results have showed that 100% of UK implant surgeons use antibiotic prophylaxis. The type of antibiotic and duration vary significantly between centres. Interestingly, however, the regimes followed by most practices do not adhere to surgical principles of antibiotic prophylaxis.

PMID: 18618432 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]