Rising antibiotic resistance increasing risks of routine surgery – study

Common procedures and chemotherapy will be virtually impossible if problem is not tackled urgently, researchers say

Routine surgery and chemotherapy may become all but impossible unless urgent action is taken to halt the waning efficacy of antibiotic drugs, according to research.

A paper says rising resistance to antibiotics routinely used to prevent patients getting infections during and after surgery is a disaster. It will mean increased risk for operations such as caesareans, hip replacements and appendix removal, and also treatment for cancer patients, who are given antibiotics because chemotherapy drugs undermine their immune system, making them vulnerable to infections.