No antibiotics after lumpectomy?

Options
Skeptic
Skeptic Member Posts: 20
edited October 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I've been told I would not be given antibiotics after a lumpectomy because it's been shown to increase the incidence of c.diff. Supposedly the likelihood of infection after a lumpectomy is very low, 10%, so in light of the increased c.diff risk from antibiotics, the hospital stopped routinely giving antibiotics after a lumpectomy 5 years ago. Has anyone else heard of this? Have any of you not been given antibiotics after a lumpectomy?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited October 2015

    Skeptic, I didn't receive any antibiotics either. It is more or less standard practice. You probably did get an IV antibiotic in surgery though.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    I had no oral antibiotics after a bilateral mastectomy.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2015

    I didn't receive antibiotics after mine

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ChicagoReader
    ChicagoReader Member Posts: 110
    edited October 2015

    I didn't receive any antibiotics after my surgery either. A few days later, I developed an infection in one of the incisions and started antibiotics then. It cleared up quickly. I'm probably not typical -- if there's an opportunity for a skin infection, my skin will take it!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2015

    I was given some IV antibiotics before I went intk surgery for UMX but not any oral after.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Quirky74747
    Quirky74747 Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2015

    I had a LX on 9/4. I actually have a history of C. Diff. from about 11 years before so I was very concerned about ANY antibiotics bringing it back. I avoid them unless it's an absolute emergency. My surgeon said that she thought the risk of C. diff. was higher than the risk of infection so she had no problem with my not having any antibiotics at all. She said the factors that improve your chances of not having infection are not being overweight and not being diabetic. My surgery went very well and easily. I was nervous about infection so I made sure, once I could shower, to shower twice a day, always use clean towel every time, change sheets often, and new shirt every time. No problems at all. I healed extremely well...not sure if not taking antibiotics affects that at all. If you do have a problem, you could catch it quickly and get on antibiotics then to take care of it. Hope this helps and good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Quirky74747
    Quirky74747 Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2015

    Just wanted to add one thing...I had a very low grade fever after surgery. I was nervous that it was a sign of infection even though I didn't have any of the local symptoms (no pain or redness in breast). They told me it was perfectly normal to have a slight temperature for a few days after any surgery. So if you skip antibiotics, don't be nervous about a temperature after surgery...just keep an eye on it!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories