PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY INSERTION: CAN CURRENT ANTIOBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS GUIDELINES BE EFFECTIVE.

This article focuses on a study related to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tubes are frequently placed to allow nutrition of dysphagic patients, particularly following stroke. 28% of patients in this study grew MRSA from peristomal swabs. Similar rates of peristomal infection and MRSA infection have been found previously in Great Britain. Current antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines are unlikely to make any significant impact on peristomal infection rates while the commonest organisms involved are resistant.