Adult

Open Fracture Treatment

  • Antibiotics to be given within 1 hour of injury. 
  • Treat for a maximum of 3 days OR until soft tissue closure achieved (whichever is sooner). 
  • Consider tetanus vaccine and immunoglobulin. See Tetanus prone wounds
  • See surgical prophylaxis in Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Preferred

co-amoxiclav 625mg po tds (or co-amoxiclav 1.2g iv tds if NBM). 

Alternative

For penicillin allergy (non-severe and severe) or MRSA positive patients:

co-trimoxazole 960mg po bd (or iv if NBM). 

Consider penicillin allergy assessment and delabelling

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 01 Oct 2023

Author(s): AMST.

Approved By: MMTC