title: Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Adults With Open Tibial Fractures: What Is the Evidence for Duration of Administration? A Systematic Review.
abstract: Open tibial fractures are common injuries after high-energy trauma such as road traffic accidents. Infection is one of the main complications of open fractures. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have been used for prophylaxis and treatment of infection in these fractures. The duration of antibiotic prophylaxis remains controversial, especially for the different types and grades of open fractures. No complete review, to date, has been performed of published studies to demonstrate the wide variety of duration of antibiotic use in practice to prevent infection, especially in open tibial fractures. The purpose of the present study was to review the evidence in the current data regarding the duration of prophylactic antibiotic administration in open tibial fractures and to identify the optimum duration of administration of antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection in these fractures. We reviewed and evaluated all published clinical trials claiming or cited elsewhere as being authoritative regarding the duration of prophylactic antibiotic use in open tibial fracture management. A large number of studies reported antibiotic prophylaxis in open fractures; however, only 8 met the inclusion criteria set out for our review. Only 1 randomized, double-blind, prospective study examined the duration of prophylactic antibiotic administration in open tibial fractures. That study suggested a short course of antibiotics is as effective as a long course in infection prophylaxis. The results of the present review highlight the need for a rigorous randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial to establish an agreed protocol for the optimal length of prophylactic antibiotic administration in open tibial fractures.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Musculoskeletal Division, Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals Foundation Trust, Slough, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sherifisaac@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sherif M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.affiliation: Academic Foundation Doctor, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Core Trainee, West Birmingham Deanery, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Irini N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Danial
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Registrar, South Warwickshire Foundation National Health Service Trust, Warwick, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mourkus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: fracture management; lower limb; prophylactic antibiotic; trauma