The value of prophylactic antibiotics for simple lacerations

A prospective study was undertaken to review the efficacy of antibiotics in the treatment of patients with minor lacerations. Four hundred and ninety-nine patients were randomized into two groups. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients in group 1 received cephalexin, 250 milligrams, every six hours for 72 hours. Two hundred and seventy-two patients in group 2 received no antibiotics. The over-all infection rate was 6.6 per cent, 33 of 499 patients. Sixteen of the 227 patients in group 1, 7.0 per cent, had infections develop compared with 17 of the 272 patients in group 2, 6.25 per cent. Seven of 51 patients, 13.7 per cent, in group 1 and three of 53, 5.7 per cent, in group 2 with mildly contaminated wounds had infections develop. No significant difference was noted between the groups according to the age of the patient, interval since injury, anatomic location or suture technique. Prophylactic, orally administered antibiotics do not decrease the incidence of infection in patients with suture closure of simple lacerations.