Minor skin surgery. Are prophylactic antibiotics ever needed for curettage?
Curettage of skin lesions was not followed by bacteraemia in 22 patients. The risk of bacterial endocarditis after curettage and other minor skin surgery is small but should not be overlooked in those with a prosthetic heart valve, a history of other cardiac surgery, a previous episode of infective endocarditis, drug addiction, diabetes, alcoholism, immunosuppression, or renal failure--especially where the skin lesion might be infected.
Maurice
P D
PD
Department of Dermatology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, England.
Parker
S
S
Azadian
B S
BS
Cream
J J
JJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003475:Curettage / Q000379:methods*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents