Value of antibiotic prophylaxis in periodontal surgery

THE MORBIDITY and incidence of bacteremia in periodontal surgery with or without cephalexin prophylaxis were assessed in adults on the basis of clinical evaluations and blood cultures. Cephalexin reduced the incidence of polymicrobic bacteremias. There was no correlation between objective signs of tissue healing and antibiotic coverage in treated or nontreated patients. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility data showed that cephalexin was active against the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria isolated from blood specimens taken during surgery.