Preventive Antibiotics Before Knee Surgery

Percent of Knee Replacement Surgery Patients who Received Preventive
Antibiotics 1 Hour Before Surgery
April 2007 - March 2008

What the graph is saying

For this measure, higher percentages are better. The graph above shows that HealthEast, St. Joseph's and Woodwinds are below the Minnesota average. St. John's Hospital is consistent with the Minnesota average.

Why is this measure important?

Antibiotics are medicines to prevent and treat infections. Research shows that surgery patients who get antibiotics within the hour before their operation are less likely to get wound infections. Getting an antibiotic earlier, or after surgery begins, is not as effective. This shows how often hospitals make sure surgery patients get antibiotics at the right time.

Description above from the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

* The "Top U.S. Hospitals" represent the top 10% of all hospitals reporting information to Hospital Compare.