Antibiotic prophylaxis in breast cancer surgery (PAUS trial): randomised clinical double-blind parallel-group multicentre superiority trial

This randomised controlled trial evaluated whether a single bolus dose of 1.2g intravenous Augmentin reduced wound infection at 30 days after breast cancer surgery. 438 patients received prophylactic antibiotics and 433 patients acted as controls without receipt of prophylactic antibiotics. Wound infection rates were 16.2% in the intervention group, compared to 19.2% in the control group (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.15; p=0.25). Wound infection risk increased for every 5kg/m2 increment in BMI (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.52; p=0.003). Additionally, patients who were preoperative carriers of staphylococcus aureus had increased risk of wound infection. However, prophylactic antibiotic did not benefit patients with high BMI or carriers of staphylococcus aureus.   

Classifications: Breast & Oncoplastic Surgery

Keywords: Antibiotic Prophylaxis Trials Breast Surgery