[Antibiotic treatment in accident surgery. A status determination]

Systemic antibiotic therapy in traumatology should be able to prevent contamination of the aseptic operation situs with pathogenic germs (as prophylaxis); or it should be able to reduce the bacterial flora in and around an infectious focus during and after operation. An adequate circulation in the bone and the soft tissue coverage is necessary for proper concentration of the antibiotics. --The commonly accepted indications for antibiotic treatment are listed and critically reviewed. Without a continuous germ control of the hospital flora no calculated antibiotic therapy is possible.