Improvement in prescribing habits and economic outcomes associated with the introduction of a standardized approach for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis.

A quasi-experimental before-after study was conducted to determine the impact on prescribing habits and economic outcomes of an intervention that required use of an order form for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis. Implementation of this intervention improved compliance with guidelines for prevention of surgical site infections, particularly with respect to choice of antibiotic, duration of use, and dosage, and resulted in decreased cost of surgical prophylaxis.