Table 2.
Study characteristics of trials examining systemic prophylactic antibiotics for burns patients in perioperative settings. Figures are means (SD or SE) or median (range) unless stated otherwise
| Study and intervention details | Intervention duration (days) | No of patients randomised | Age (years) | TBSA (%) | Third degree burns (%) | Inhalation injury (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander 198251 | ||||||
| Systemic intravenous cephalothin | 1 | 127 | 10.5 (0.4) | NS | NS | NS |
| Placebo | 122 | 10.8 (0.4) | ||||
| Alexander 198450 | ||||||
| Systemic antibiotics tailored to wound cultures | 1 | 35 | NS | 45.7% >30% | NS | NS |
| No treatment | 34 | 38.2% >30% | ||||
| Munster 198959 | ||||||
| Systemic intravenous polymyxin B* | 5 | 6 | 47.7 | 54.8 | NS | NS |
| No treatment | 11 | 40.6 | 38.4 | |||
| Piel 198560 | ||||||
| Systemic intravenous cephalosporin | 1 | 25 | 33.6 | 42.6 | NS | NS |
| Placebo | 26 | 39.2 | 37 | |||
| Ramos 200861 | ||||||
| Systemic intravenous cephalothin or antibiotics tailored to surveillance cultures | 2 | 46 | 39 (21.7) | 21.6 (21) | NS | NS |
| No treatment | 44 | 35 (22) | 27.7 (22.3) | |||
| Rodgers 199762 | ||||||
| Systemic intravenous cefazolin | 1 | 10 | 1.5 | 10 | NS | NS |
| Placebo | 10 | 1.9 | 11 | |||
| Steer 199763† | ||||||
| Systemic intravenous teicoplanin | 1 | 67 (110 episodes) | 38 (23-54) | 8.5 (4-18) | 44 | NS |
| Placebo | 67 (110 episodes) | 42.5 (26-56) | 8.0 (4-16) | 45 | ||
TBSA=total body surface area; NS=not stated; MRSA=meticillin resistant S aureus.
*Two sequential parts randomising patients to general systemic prophylaxis (first part) and perioperative systemic prophylaxis (second part), kept separate in our analyses.
†Trial included patients before surgery (46% of episodes) or change of dressing.