[Perioperative preventive use of antibiotics in head and neck surgery]

The results of five consecutive prospective trials define the role of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in head and neck surgery. For contaminated head and neck cases and for endonasal sinus surgery, a single-dose prophylaxis seems to be sufficient. Most clean cases do not need antibiotic prophylaxis. Risk factors for wound infection include nicotine or alcohol abuse, poor oral hygiene and increasing age. Previous radiotherapy seems to be of minor importance.