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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Natasha May health reporter

Common antibiotic treatment failing to prevent infections in surgery patients, Australian study finds

Doctors conducting knee replacement surgery on a patient
Knee and hip joint replacements are on the rise due to an ageing population, with antibiotics often given to patients to prevent post-operative infections. Photograph: Portra/Getty Images

Prescribing more antibiotics to patients undergoing joint replacement surgery does not prevent infections despite being a common practice, a large Australian study has found.

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics is the key driver of bugs mutating to become resistant to them, known as antimicrobial resistance. Experts have warned that safe and common surgeries may become hazardous if antimicrobial resistance makes it impossible to treat hospital-acquired infections.

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