Antibiotic and bacteriologic considerations in open fractures.

A prospective study involving 581 open fracture wounds was conducted to evaluate the antibiotic and bacteriologic considerations in the treatment of open fractures. Multiple cultures were taken of each wound, and each wound had formal surgical irrigation and debridement. An organism was present in at least one of the multiple cultures in 62.1% of the cases. Open fractures should be considered as contaminated wounds, and antibiotics are given for treatment rather than prophylaxis.