If a wound is high risk for infection, when should antibiotics be started?

If a wound is high risk for infection, when should antibiotics be started?

• A. After tissue manipulation
• B. Immediately; prior to tissue manipulation
• C. Only if infection develops
• D. Never until 24 hours after injury

Answer: (B)

In high-risk wounds, giving antibiotics right away before you start cleaning or manipulating the tissue is the best move. The idea is to have adequate antibiotic levels in the tissue at the moment bacteria are introduced and during the early handling of the wound. If you wait until after manipulation or until infection appears, the window where prophylaxis can prevent infection is missed, and delaying for 24 hours after injury greatly increases the chance of infection. So, start antibiotics immediately, prior to tissue manipulation, to reduce the risk of infection.

In high-risk wounds, giving antibiotics right away before you start cleaning or manipulating the tissue is the best move. The idea is to have adequate antibiotic levels in the tissue at the moment bacteria are introduced and during the early handling of the wound. If you wait until after manipulation or until infection appears, the window where prophylaxis can prevent infection is missed, and delaying for 24 hours after injury greatly increases the chance of infection. So, start antibiotics immediately, prior to tissue manipulation, to reduce the risk of infection.