title: Prophylactic antibiotics in maxillofacial fractures: a requisite?
abstract: The role of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent surgical wound infection (SWI) in the management of maxillofacial fractures is controversial. We carried out a retrospective study in 67 patients with 114 maxillofacial fractures, of which 9 patients each were in group 1 (no antibiotic) and group 3 (cefotaxime) and 49 in group 2 (penicillin). We had an overall SWI rate of 16.66%, of which 3 of group 1 (33.33%), 12 of group 2 (24.48%), and 2 of group 3 (22.22%) constituted the SWIs. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the infection rates. A strong positive correlation was found between infection rate and the delay in treatment, and a similar correlation was found in the use of catgut and SWI. Our study suggests that prophylactic antibiotic therapy may not alter the incidence of surgical wound infection.
authors.affiliation: Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adalarasan
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasupathy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*