Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Trauma Patients

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Infectious Disease
• Antibiotic Stewardship

Background:

• Rising antimicrobial resistance necessitates tailored antibiotic protocols.
• Trauma patient needs differ from elective surgery patients regarding antibiotic therapy.
• Evaluating early antibiotic administration in high-activation trauma is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare outcomes of high-activation trauma patients receiving antibiotics versus those who did not during initial evaluation.
• To identify factors associated with early antibiotic administration in trauma patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of highest trauma activation criteria patients in 2021.
• Data collection included demographics, injury details, and antimicrobial administration.
• Manual data abstraction from institutional trauma registry.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of trauma patients received antibiotics post-initial evaluation.
• Younger age was significantly associated with antibiotic administration within 1.5 hours.
• Young men with penetrating injuries were more likely to receive antibiotics; 78% of early antibiotic recipients underwent procedures vs. 61% of non-recipients (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic treatment in trauma should be individualized based on patient age and injury pattern.
• Trauma providers must prioritize antibiotic stewardship for effective patient management.
• Early antibiotics were associated with higher rates of procedures in trauma patients.