UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Resident David Patch, M.D., alongside Associate Professor Clay Spitler, M.D., published a study focusing on the effects of prophylactic piperacillin-tazobactam (PT) on inpatient acute kidney injury (AKI) and fracture-related infection (FRI) in patients with open fractures.David Patch, M.D.

The study was published in late August in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma and is titled “Risk of Acute Kidney Injury and Fracture Related Infection after Antibiotic Prophylaxis with Piperacillin-Tazobactam in Open Fractures.”

Recent studies have called into question the risks of acute kidney injury and fracture-related infection in patients with open fractures after PT (Penicillin Class) was given.

Authors of the study reviewed 358 Gustilo-Anderson type ll and lll open fracture inpatients over a five-year period. There were 176 patients in the PT group and 182 patients in the historical control group. With a 5.7 to 2.7% comparison, there was no difference in the rate of AKI between the PT and control groups. With a 23.6 to 19.6% comparison, there also was no difference in the rate of FRI between the two groups.

The study concludes that the use of PT in prophylactic antimicrobial treatment in patients with Gustilo-Anderson type II and III open fractures does not increase the rate of AKI or FRI.

To read more about the study and its results, click here.