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The use of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics following excision of ulcerated skin lesions in the UK – A national, multi-speciality survey of clinicians

Totty, Joshua; Matin, Rubeta; Wernham, Aaron; Ray, Ruby; Thomas-Jones, Emma; Abbott, Rachel

Authors

Profile image of Josh Totty

Mr Josh Totty J.Totty@hull.ac.uk
NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Plastic Surgery

Rubeta Matin

Aaron Wernham

Ruby Ray

Emma Thomas-Jones

Rachel Abbott



Abstract

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the UK, and up to a third of lesions are ulcerated at the time of excision. Ulceration has been shown to increase the risk of developing surgical site infection post-excision, with some studies finding infection rates of 33%. However, no specific guidelines for the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in such cases exist. We surveyed 129 clinicians from dermatology, plastic surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery, who all excise skin lesions on a regular basis. There was significant variability in their practice with regards to antibiotic prophylaxis, with 9% always prescribing them and 19% never prescribing them. Variation exists both inter- and intra-speciality. This variation increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance and shows a paucity of good clinical evidence, which mandates a well-designed clinical trial to guide future practice.

Citation

Totty, J., Matin, R., Wernham, A., Ray, R., Thomas-Jones, E., & Abbott, R. (in press). The use of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics following excision of ulcerated skin lesions in the UK – A national, multi-speciality survey of clinicians. Clinical and experimental dermatology, https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.15075

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 20, 2021
Online Publication Date Dec 22, 2021
Deposit Date Dec 20, 2021
Publicly Available Date Dec 23, 2022
Journal Clinical and experimental dermatology
Print ISSN 0307-6938
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.15075
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3902608

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Clinican Survey Letter As Submitted (103 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
©2021 The authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder





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