Summary
A metaanalysis of 22 randomized controlled trials found evidence to support parenteral
antibiotic prophylaxis regimens for patients undergoing surgical fixation of closed
hip
and long bone fractures. Preoperative parenteral antibiotic doses (single or combined
with multiple postoperative doses) resulted in decreased risk of deep, superficial,
and urinary tract infections compared with no antibiotic. Single doses of short acting
agents may be less effective than multiple doses of the same agent in decreasing the
risk of any of the infections evaluated. By contrast, there was no significant difference
in infection risk between a single dose of a long acting agent and multiple doses
of other agents with shorter half lives. No significant differences were found when
multiple dose regimens were compared or when administration routes (oral versus parenteral)
were compared.
