Login
Create Account
AAOS 2025 Registration Is Now Open! Sign Up Early and Save.

AAOS.org is currently experiencing longer than usual load times when logging in. We are working to correct this issue and hope to resolve it shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

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.