Soft tissue injury, contaminated

For skin and soft tissue wounds that are contaminated but not actively infected. 

• Thorough cleaning and/or surgical debridement is indicated. 
• Tetanus risk assessment should be performed. See also Tetanus prone wounds.

Suggested duration of antibiotic therapy

• Consider antibiotics for 3 days where heavy contamination has occurred, especially with soil, mud, faeces, and dirty water. 
• Consider antibiotics for 5 days where a foreign body has been removed from a contaminated wound. 
• When a foreign body cannot be removed, consult Micro/ID