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Surgical prophylaxis timing — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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ModerateSurgery (Post-operative / Follow-up)Surgical prophylaxis timingUSMLE Step 3

A 55-year-old woman is scheduled for elective colorectal surgery. She has no drug allergies. The team is reviewing practices to reduce surgical site infection. The operation is expected to start at 8:00 AM. Which of the following is the most appropriate quality improvement measure?

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Correct answer: A — Administer appropriate prophylactic antibiotics within 60 minutes before incision

Timely pre-incision antibiotic prophylaxis reduces surgical site infections.

Reference: AHRQ patient safety network, https://psnet.ahrq.gov/