What is a common strategy to prevent surgical site infections?

Administering prophylactic antibiotics as per protocol is a common strategy to prevent surgical site infections. This approach involves giving antibiotics to patients before surgery, which helps to eliminate any potential pathogens present at the surgical site. The timing, type of antibiotic, and specific protocols are based on guidelines that consider the patient's health, the type of surgery being performed, and the most common bacteria involved in postoperative infections. By ensuring that the patient has adequate antibiotic coverage at the time of surgery, the risk of an infection developing is significantly reduced.

In contrast to this method, ensuring an environment free from microorganisms relies on strict sterile techniques, exposure to air may actually allow for contaminants to settle into the surgical area, and increasing patient movement post-surgery could potentially disrupt the surgical site. Therefore, administering prophylactic antibiotics is a focused and well-supported method for minimizing the risk of infections during the surgical process.