The Significance of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Skin Biopsy

Jung, Do Sang; Jo, Ju Hyun; Lee, Jae Bong; Kim, Moon Bum; Oh, Chang Keun; Jang, Ho Sun; Kwon, Kyung Sool

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Many dermatologists usually prescribe antibiotics postoperatively to prevent the wound infection, but there are no definite guidelines for the use of prophylactic antibiotics in skin biopsy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics after skin biopsy. METHODS: We performed the prospective study of 200 patients in skin biopsy. We excluded patients who have a risk factor of infective endocarditis, replacement of articular prosthesis within 6 months, chronic renal failure, chronic hepatic failure, anemia, internal malignancy, untreated diabetes, immune suppression, taken antibiotic within 1 week, hypersensitivity to antibiotics and infected wound. They were classified randomly into two groups, each 100 patients with or without antibiotic prophylaxis. All patient received the wound dressing. All biopsy wounds were evaluated in a blinded fashion at the time of suture removal and scored according to a standardized assessment based on erythema, edema and discharge. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients who received the wound dressing and the prophylactic antibiotics postoperatively, no one had surgical wound infection. Of the 100 patients who received only the wound dressing, one patient had surgical wound infection. CONCLUSION: The infection rates were not significantly different between two groups. Therefore prophylactic antibiotics after skin biopsy may not be necessary to prevent wound infection in healthy patients.