Prophylactic antibiotic in minor traumatic wound: Is it worth.

ABSTRACT

Antibiotics in minor traumatic wounds may not be useful if the wounds are not severely contaminated and received appropriate management since the chance of infection is usually low. Our objective is to determine the value of antibiotics in minor traumatic wounds. A randomized control trial was done in 166 patients (123 males, 43 females), aged between 6 and 60 years, with minor traumatic wounds. Most wounds were located on head and extremity regions. Cultures were done before suturing in all wounds. The wounds were cleaned and sutured as usual, then divided into two groups, group B treated with antibiotics for at least 3 days, group A no antibiotics was used. Antibiotics were given in 83 wounds. One hundred wounds were completely followed up, 50 with oral antibiotic treatment (penicillin v, cloxacillin or erythromycin). Infection rates of those with and without antibiotic treatment were compared using Chi-square test. Initial cultures showed 91 positive wound cultures (54.6%). Staphylococcus coagulase negative was the major organism (69.2%) found. Four wounds were infected though oral antibiotics were given (group B), where as in the non-antibiotic group(group A) 2 wounds were infected. Comparison with Chi-square test showed no statistical significant difference (p>0.05). We conclude that usage of antibiotics in minor traumatic wound does not reduce wound infection rate. Prophylactic antibiotic in minor traumatic wound should be limited because the incidence of infection is too low to justify the expense and risk of antibiotic administration. Wound debridement and cleansing are more advantageous than antibiotic alone.