Do All Packed Noses Get Antibiotics?

Do All Packed Noses Get Antibiotics?

Due to the fear of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), it has long been considered the standard of care to prescribe antibiotics as prophylaxis for patients who receive packing to treat anterior epistaxis.  But do these patient's really need antibiotics?  How real is the threat? What if you are only packing for a short time?

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Antibiotics for Facial Fractures

Antibiotics for Facial Fractures

In the Emergency Department, we frequently encounter patient's with facial fractures and associated lacerations.  The orthopedic surgery literature strongly supports the use of antibiotics for open fractures.  The facial surgery literature, however, does not have extensive publications addressing the use of antibiotics in open facial fractures.  So what are we to do? Does every fracture get antibiotics? If not, which fractures?

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