Prophylactic antibiotics and closed tube thoracostomy

A prospective randomized study of 85 patients who had sustained trauma to the chest requiring closed tube thoracostomy is reported. They were segregated into two groups, one of which did not receive prophylactic cephapirin sodium. Although the series is somewhat abbreviated, it would appear that the use of prophylactic antibiotics merely for the presence of a chest tube is an unsettled issue and of no definitely proved benefit.