[Antibiotic prophylaxis of penetrating injuries of the abdomen].

Antibiotic prophylaxis for a penetrating injury of the abdomen has a distinctive feature as contamination occurs before administration of antibiotics and because important blood loss can modify the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics. Due to the rate and severity of infectious complications, no controlled study has been undertaken. All authors agree to use prophylactic antibiotics in patients with penetrating injury of the abdomen. Various antibiotic regimens have been administered, but it seems that those using an antibiotic active against anaerobes are more efficient to prevent postoperative infectious complications than without them. There is no benefit to administer antibiotics for more than 24 hours.