The use of prophylactic antibiotics in clean podiatric surgery.

The presence of a postoperative wound infection after clean podiatric surgery may predispose the patient to a prolonged, often nonambulatory, convalescent period. Although the incidence of postoperative infection after elective podiatric surgery is small, a protocol to govern the use of prophylactic antibiotics has been developed in order to achieve their maximum benefits with a minimum of risk. Indications for chemoprophylaxis have been divided into two groups: specific operative procedures that may warrant antibiotic intervention and patients who present with specific risk factors. Additionally, it has been suggested that single dose prophylaxis is preferable to multiple dose administration.