Prophylactic antibiotics as an adjunct for skin grafting in clean reconstructive surgery following burn injury

A randomized prospective double-blind trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of cephalothin vs. placebo given perioperatively for prevention of infections associated with operations using skin grafts for clean reconstructive surgery following burn injury. The antibiotic was effective in reducing infection (0.8% vs. 5.7%, p less than 0.03), reducing graft loss (p less than 0.2), and shortening hospital stay (12.38 days vs. 13.66 days, p = 0.02). Factors not associated with greater graft infection included the operating surgeon, the use or nonuse of a tie-on stent, graft thickness, large size of graft, and patient age.