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Quality & Practice Resources / Quality Programs & Guidelines / AAOS Toolkits / Topical Antibiotics & Antimicrobial Surgical Dressings

Intraoperative Risk Factors

Topical Antibiotics & Antimicrobial Surgical Dressings

Evidence is lacking in orthopaedic surgery to support the use of topical antibiotics prior to and after wound closure.

The role of putting powdered antibiotics into a wound needs to be researched further.

Surgeon Tools/Recommendations:

CDC Recommendations:

  • Against the use of applying antimicrobial agents to surgical incisions.
    • A recommendation cannot be made for or against the use of antimicrobial dressings applied to the surgical incision after closure.