Can I Take Zithromax Before my Surgery on Monday?

asked 5 months ago by Krismiss10 in Annapolis, MD
Latest answer by Peter A. Aldea, MD
Question viewed 215 times
Tags: antibiotic, drug interaction, sick

I tested positive for strep today. Will this be a problem for my scheduled Tummy Tuck?

9 answers to Can I Take Zithromax Before my Surgery on Monday?

Strep Throat and Cosmetic Surgery

For your safety no elective surgery should be done until an active infection as been completely treated. In such cases we allow the infection to resolve before considering a return to the operating room.

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Undergoing elective surgery is elective, not an urgency or emergency

Thank you for your question. Contact your doctor's office and inform him/her and the anesthesiologist. There is a good chance that you won't have a choice. If you are sick, then surgery may be canceled and rescheduled to a time that you are not sick. It is not worth the risk of getting much sicker for an elective surgery.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

You can take your Zithromax; you should NOT have surgery until your strep throat is completely treated.

Thoguh you have started antibiotic therapy prior to surgery, you will NOT have completed treatment, and will likely still have many more strep bacteria still present, even if you remain asymptomatic. Realize that antibiotics work by first killing the sensitive strains of strep that infect your throat, and hopefully killing at least some of the more resistant strains that are present in any billions-of-bacteria colonies that are multiplying and mutating. Soon, only the resistant strains... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Delay surgery with an active infection

If you tested positive for strep throat on Friday, it is in your best interest to delay your surgery for a few weeks. Let your surgeon know as soon as possible.

Michael S. Hopkins, MD
Albuquerque Plastic Surgeon

www.hopkinsplasticsurgery.com

Elective surgery and strep infection

Thnakd for your question. I could not tell when your surgery was scheduled for and I am assuming you have a strep throat infection? I would reccomend if you were my patient to treat the infection and wait at least 10 days - 2weeks prior to elective surgery. Please communicate with your surgeon.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Strep Infection Before Surgery

Cancel the surgery. It is not worth the risk to your health to pursue the surgery with an active infection so close to the procedure date.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

www.drdemarsmd.com

Strep contraindicates tummy tuck

If you have a strep infection, the surgery should be cancelled. There are both anesthesia and infection issues. The surgery can certainly be rescheduled as soon as you have recovered but the first priority should be to recover from the strep. You should notify your plastic surgeon as soon as possible (like immediately) so he can be aware. In cases where an illness causes postponement of a surgery, although inconvenient for both physician and patient, I do not charge a cancellation fee... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Infection prior to Tummy Tuck?

I'm sorry to hear about the infection and its poor timing. Unfortunately, online consultation is not the way to go here; you need to communicate with your plastic surgeon... Best wishes. see video

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Strep and Zithromax

Dear Krismiss10, The first question I would ask is, "For what test was the strep test positive for?" If you are having surgery in the next few days, you need to discuss your test results with your plastic surgeon ASAP! The presence of an infection before your surgery increases your risks for complications and post-operative infections. Usually this requires completing your antibiotic treatment and confirming that your infection is gone before... more