Premium
Are prophylactic antibiotics useful in the management of facial fractures?
Author(s) -
Morris Lisa M.,
Kellman Robert M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.24364
Subject(s) - antibiotics , medicine , intensive care medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
BACKGROUND Surgeons operating in the head and neck commonly treat facial fractures; however, the role of prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial. Facial fractures vary in location and severity and can span the range of wound classifications including clean, clean contaminated, contaminated, and dirty/infected. It is clear that actively infected facial fractures should be treated with therapeutic antibiotics; however, there is widespread variability in the use, type, timing, and duration of prophylactic antibiotic use in practice today. In an era of increased antibiotic resistance, as well as greater focus on evidence-based medicine and reducing health care costs, it is important to review the current evidence for the role of prophylactic antibiotics in facial fractures.