What antibiotic is listed for an adult open fracture?

What antibiotic is listed for an adult open fracture?

• A. Cefepime: 2g reconstituted in 10ml Normal Saline then added to 100ml Normal Saline bag (10 drop set at 1 drop a second, about 16 minutes)
• B. Cefazime: 2g
• C. Amoxicillin 500 mg
• D. No antibiotic

Answer: (A)

The main concept is using an IV antibiotic with broad-spectrum coverage for an open fracture to protect against contamination from both skin flora and gram-negative organisms. Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that covers many gram-positive cocci and a wide range of gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas. This level of coverage is important in open fractures where the wound is exposed and at higher risk for diverse infections. Providing it IV, with a setup that delivers the dose over a short infusion, reflects standard practice for rapid systemic exposure in trauma care. In contrast, cefazime (likely cefazolin) mainly covers gram-positive bacteria and has limited activity against gram-negative organisms, so it wouldn’t reliably guard against Pseudomonas in a contaminated open fracture. Amoxicillin is an oral option with restricted use in this context and insufficient IV coverage for acute fracture prophylaxis. No antibiotic would leave the wound vulnerable to infection in an open fracture scenario.

The main concept is using an IV antibiotic with broad-spectrum coverage for an open fracture to protect against contamination from both skin flora and gram-negative organisms. Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that covers many gram-positive cocci and a wide range of gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas. This level of coverage is important in open fractures where the wound is exposed and at higher risk for diverse infections. Providing it IV, with a setup that delivers the dose over a short infusion, reflects standard practice for rapid systemic exposure in trauma care.

In contrast, cefazime (likely cefazolin) mainly covers gram-positive bacteria and has limited activity against gram-negative organisms, so it wouldn’t reliably guard against Pseudomonas in a contaminated open fracture. Amoxicillin is an oral option with restricted use in this context and insufficient IV coverage for acute fracture prophylaxis. No antibiotic would leave the wound vulnerable to infection in an open fracture scenario.