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Antibiotic prophylaxis with cefazolin in reducing the infection rate of non-melanocytic skin tumors: a randomized clinical trial

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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Surgical wound infections are a significant problem and may interfere with healing. There is no uniform data in the literature regarding the rate of infection among the resection of skin tumors and the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis with cefazolin in resections of nonmelanocytic skin tumors and whether the histological type and ulceration is related to the rate of wound infection.

Methods

Two hundred and twenty-seven patients undergoing non-melanocytic skin tumor resection were randomly divided into two groups: group I without antibiotic prophylaxis of surgical site infection, and group II with intravenous cefazolin prophylaxis. Authors looked for surgical wound infection during a month of follow-up. Comparison intra and extra groups were made considering the tumor histology, and if it was ulcerated or not to surgical site infection.

Results

The infection rate in the sample was 25 lesions (12.01 %). Antibiotic prophylaxis proved to be effective in ulcerative lesions, and the infection rate was reduced from 12 cases (30 %) to 3 cases (9.85 %) (p Fisher = 0.04; RRR = 0.61; NNT = 4.80) but was not associated with reduced infection rates in any histological type.

Conclusions

Antibiotic prophylaxis was effective in preventing wound infection in ulcerated non-melanocytic skin tumor.

Level of Evidence: Level I, therapeutic study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre-ISCMPA, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre–UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, RS, 90020-090, Brazil

    Rodrigo Dreher, Juliana L. C. Tenório, Ygor A. Ferrão & Pedro B. Ely

  2. Medical School Academic, Av. Carlos Gomes 1492/208, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Juliana L. C. Tenório

Authors
  1. Rodrigo Dreher
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  2. Juliana L. C. Tenório
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  3. Ygor A. Ferrão
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  4. Pedro B. Ely
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodrigo Dreher.

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Conflict of interest

Rodrigo Dreher, Juliana Tenório, Ygor Ferrão, Pedro Ely declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Patient consent

Patients provided written consent before their inclusion in this study.

Ethical standards

This study is in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki regarding research on human beings and approved by a local board (CAAE 30780914100005335).

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Dreher, R., Tenório, J.L.C., Ferrão, Y.A. et al. Antibiotic prophylaxis with cefazolin in reducing the infection rate of non-melanocytic skin tumors: a randomized clinical trial. Eur J Plast Surg 40, 133–136 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-016-1240-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-016-1240-4

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