Antibiotics and trauma

Abstract

The key to successful trauma management is appropriate, timely and adequate surgery. However, infective complications do occur and it would therefore seem prudent to use antibiotics. They should be started within an hour or so of the injury, in adequate doses and with a view to the bacteria likely to be contaminating the wound. They should be stopped as soon as possible after surgery. If evidence of infection appears after surgery, all efforts must be made to identify the source and deal with it. Narrow spectrum antibiotics should be used where possible. Only in this way can the problems of bacterial resistance to antibiotics be obviated.