Re: "Preventing Surgical Infections a Timing Game" (March, page 8). Perhaps we should incorporate the confirmation of antibiotic administration into the time out that many ORs take before surgery. When the OR personnel stop to confirm patient identity, scheduled procedure and laterality of procedure (if applicable), they can confirm antibiotic administration. If the antibiotic has been given, continue with your preparations. If the antibiotic hasn't been given, there is still time for the antibiotic to take effect before incision. With this measure, one would anticipate increasing the rate of proper administration from 55 percent to something approaching 100 percent.

Richard A. Stauffer, MDA, MBA
Henrico Doctors' Hospital
Richmond, Va.
writeMail("ricruns@aol.com")