Topical Antibiotics for Clean Dermatologic Procedures

Using information from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database, the authors of this study calculated that approximately 212 million clean dermatologic procedures were performed between 1993 and 2007, mostly by dermatologists (63.3%), but also by family or general practice clinicians (17.3%), surgeons, and other specialists.

Topical antibiotics were administered to prevent postoperative wound infections in about 5% of these procedures, and dermatologists were more likely to use them than other practitioners (6% vs. 3.5%). The most common procedures were excisions and skin biopsies. Over the period studied, the use of topical antibiotics decreased among all providers.