A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 11 trials with a total of 2 867 participants. Prophylactic antibiotics pre-operatively compared to placebo or no antibiotic reduce the incidence of surgical site infection for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery without reconstruction (pooled RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.85; 10 trials, n=2 823). No studies presented separate data for patients who underwent reconstructive surgery at the time of removal of the breast tumour.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (inadequate intention-to-treat adherence).
Primary/Secondary Keywords