title: Role of prophylactic antibiotics in open and basilar fractures of the skull: a randomized study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the controversial issue of the use of prophylactic antibiotics in open and basilar fractures of the skull. A series of 157 patients were randomized to receive no antibiotics (group A = 46 patients) or ceftriaxone for 3 days (group B = 50 patients), or the combination ampicillin/sulphadiazine for 3 days (group C = 61 patients). The incidence of meningitis was similar in both the antibiotic and non-antibiotic groups. However, the overall incidence of infectious complications in the non-antibiotic group was significantly higher than in the antibiotic group (8.7 per cent vs 0.9 per cent, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the ceftriaxone group and the ampicillin/sulphadiazine group. The results of the study suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis has a role in the management of open and basilar fractures.
authors.affiliation: Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demetriades
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charalambides
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lakhoo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pantanowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000667:Ampicillin