[The antibiotic prophylaxis of postoperative complications in breast cancer patients]

The studies showed that infectious complications in patients operated for breast cancer (BC) most frequently developed after removal of the drainage tube resulting in poorer discharge favourable for development of infections. The causative agents in such cases are usually exogenous bacteria differing from endogenous ones (Staphylococcus epidermidis) inhabiting the human skin and sometimes contaminating the operative field. The endogenous bacteria are detectable bacteriologically in 60 per cent of the cases. Still, since the operation wound contains humoral and tissue immunity factors (specifically active against the host microflora) such bacteria rarely grow on artificial media (18 per cent) and even more rarely cause infections. Therefore, to prevent postoperative infections in patients with BC it should be recognized rational to use broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs such as ampiox, ampicillin, doxycycline, cephalosporins of the 2nd and 3rd generations, etc. for 5 to 6 days after the drainage removal. If an infection develops the preventive therapy should be replaced by an adequate therapy in accordance with the pathogen sensitivity.