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Cefotaxime as Prophylaxis of Infections in Open Fractures

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Summary

During the last 50 years, the treatment of open fractures has improved through recognition of the need for rapid initiation of therapy, adequate classification of the injury, perioperative bacterial culture and sensitivity testing, adequate surgical technique and suitable immobilisation procedures. Antibiotic therapy has also improved in recent years, with the introduction of more potent agents in order to minimise bacterial resistance. The third generation cephalosporin cefotaxime has become established as a well tolerated agent with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. During the last 6 years, experience at our institution has indicated that cefotaxime is an effective and cost-effective antibacterial agent. Moreover, the administration of cefotaxime to patients with open fractures has reduced the incidence of infectious complications from 8.5 to 3.7%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital of UANL, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

    Carlos de la Garza-Paez, Edgar Cantu-Garza & Jose Antonio Lozano

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  1. Carlos de la Garza-Paez
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  2. Edgar Cantu-Garza
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  3. Jose Antonio Lozano
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de la Garza-Paez, C., Cantu-Garza, E. & Lozano, J.A. Cefotaxime as Prophylaxis of Infections in Open Fractures. Drug Invest 4 (Suppl 2), 37–40 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03258355

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