When a child goes into surgery, the right antibiotics are vital to prevent infection. A study of 143 pediatric surgeons in China looked at how these doctors understand and use those life-saving medicines. The results showed that most surgeons have very high knowledge scores when it comes to choosing the right drugs and timing their administration.
However, there is a gap between what they know and what they do. While 95.1% of surgeons knew the correct timing for starting antibiotics, only about 74.8% followed the standard rule to stop giving them after 24 hours for certain types of incisions. This shows that even when doctors are highly trained, specific habits can be hard to maintain consistently.
Researchers noted that having a lot of knowledge does not always guarantee perfect practice in every situation. Some factors, like the pressure of high-risk cases, might also influence how strictly these rules are followed. The study highlights a specific area where surgeons can improve their consistency to ensure the best care for children.
