OBJECTIVES: The prophylactic use of antimicrobial agents is recommended for the prevention of a variety of post-operative infections, which represent 25% of all nosocomial infections in hospitals. Inappropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis adds to the pressure on microbial ecology within the hospital, and increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Several factors can account for ‘antimicrobial inappropriateness’. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in a private tertiary care hospital.  METHODS: The data on surgical prophylactic antimicrobial utilization was collected retrospectively from Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Surgical orthopaedic ICU-1 (SPICU-1), Surgical orthopaedic ICU-2 (SPICU-2), Neuro Surgery ICU (NSICU) and Obstetric ward(gynae surgery). The assessment was done on the basis of choice of antibiotic, the time it was administered and the duration for which it was given, in accordance with the hospital guidelines. RESULTS: A total number of 478 patients were analyzed in different surgical ICUs and Obstetric ward. The percentage of appropriateness in selecting antibiotics was found to be 98.5% in SPICU-2, followed by 84.6% in NSICU, 74.5% in SPICU-1, 71.6% in SICU and least in Obstetric ward with 52.6%. The timing of antibiotic administration was best in SICU (83% appropriateness) and least in Obstetric ward (26% appropriateness). The appropriate duration of prophylaxis was found to be 100% in SPICU-1 and Obstetric ward, while inappropriate duration of prophylaxis 96.6% in SPICU-2. CONCLUSIONS: Overall the percentage of appropriate selection of AMAs and their timing of administration was fair. The appropriateness of surgical prophylaxis with respect to duration was best in SPICU-1 and Obstetric ward. These results are encouraging and will help the hospital to achieve ‘completely appropriate’ surgical prophylaxis.