Prehospital Trauma Compendium: Prehospital Administration of Antibiotics in Trauma Patients – an NAEMSP Resource Document

Prehospital administration of prophylactic antibiotics for trauma appears safe and may be considered in some specific patient populations. Universal and widespread adoption of this intervention needs further study to identify the true impact on patient-centered outcomes and identification of patients who might confer greatest benefit. Local practice characteristics may support adoption of multidisciplinary-developed prudent and practicable protocols incorporating the use of prophylactic antibiotics for some trauma patients such as those with open fractures or those with significant delays in transport to definitive care. Future research should attempt to address the appropriate identification of wounds and injury patterns that have the highest likelihood of benefit from prehospital administration of antibiotics, the ideal timing of administering the antibiotic(s) following initial injury, impact on infection rates, and other important patient outcomes.