Recurring concern
Failure to provide indicated antibiotic prophylaxis
First reported 4 Sep 2013•Latest report 22 Jan 2024
What this concern includes
Includes failures to recognise, recommend, prescribe or provide antibiotic prophylaxis when it is specifically indicated for a procedure, infection risk or patient vulnerability, including the anchor's gastrointestinal-surgery prophylaxis concern and peri-operative prophylaxis for MRSA risk.
Not included
- Excludes therapeutic antibiotic delays or omissions where the concern is treatment of an established or suspected infection rather than prophylaxis.
- Excludes prophylaxis involving non-antibiotic medicines, such as anticoagulants or antivirals.
- Excludes generic prescribing, clinical-knowledge or guideline deficiencies unless they directly result in failure to recognise or provide indicated antibiotic prophylaxis.
- Excludes antibiotic-prophylaxis concerns limited to an unrelated named pathway when no failure of the prophylaxis control itself is asserted.
- Reports
- 6
- Individual concerns
- 9
- Date range
- 2013–2024
- Stated actions
- 10
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised3
Incorrect prescribing of prophylactic antibiotics after urology surgery
Failure to recognise the recommendation for prophylactic antibiotics in gastro-intestinal surgery
Failure to provide prophylactic antibiotics for gastro-intestinal surgery
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Complete an antimicrobial-guidance compliance audit and share its findings with the relevant clinical collaborative.
Stated by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Update the Adult Antimicrobial Policy with links to the MicroGuide Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines app.
Stated by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Create electronic drug order sets for standardised first- and second-line surgical prophylactic antibiotic prescribing.
Stated by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
SIGN guidance is not necessarily applicable because it is Scottish; clinicians are expected to follow the Trust’s NICE-aligned antimicrobial policy.
Stated by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised2
Failure to provide antibiotic prophylaxis cover for medical procedures in patients after splenectomy
Failure to ensure life-long antibiotic prophylaxis for patients after splenectomy
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to routinely offer intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics to women with current or previous positive GBS tests
This report raised 13 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide prophylactic Teicoplanin when indicated by MRSA risk
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Update orthopaedic antimicrobial guidelines to clarify prophylaxis for patients with unknown MRSA status.
Stated by The Trust -
Action
Amend the surgical safety checklist to verify MRSA status and history with patients and staff before induction and at theatre sign-in.
Stated by The Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to routinely offer prophylactic intrapartum antibiotics to women with current or previous positive GBS tests
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Encourage research into the clinical and cost effectiveness of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis guided by routine antenatal GBS screening.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence -
Action
Publish and maintain guidance on preventing early-onset neonatal Group B streptococcal disease.
Stated by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Current evidence does not support intrapartum antibiotics for women whose GBS carriage was detected only during a previous pregnancy.
Stated by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide prophylactic antibiotic medication at discharge
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Explore ward-based technicians’ knowledge of prophylactic antibiotics required after splenectomy.
Stated by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust -
Action
Discuss systems and processes across all three Trust sites for flagging and communicating medicines that must continue after discharge.
Stated by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust -
Action
Remind the junior doctors involved to fully consider patients’ pre-admission medication.
Stated by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026