Prevention of surgical site infection in lower limb skin lesion excisions with single dose oral antibiotic prophylaxis: a prospective randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of a single perioperative prophylactic 2 g dose of cephalexin in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) following excision of skin lesions from the lower limb.

Design

Prospective double-blinded placebo-controlled trial testing for difference in infection rates.

Setting

Primary care in regional North Queensland, Australia.

Participants

52 patients undergoing lower limb skin lesion excision.

Interventions

2 g dose of cephalexin 30-60 min before excision.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of SSI.

Results

Incidence of SSI was 12.5% (95% CI 2.7% to 32.4%) in the cephalexin group compared with 35.7% (95% CI 18.6% to 55.9%) in the placebo group (p=0.064). This represented an absolute reduction of 23.21% (9

SUBMITTER: Smith SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4120377 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature