Thoracic (non-cardiac)

Antibiotic prophylaxis is given routinely in thoracic surgery, but sup- porting data are sparse. In one study, a single preoperative dose of cefazolin before pulmonary resection led to a decrease in the incidence of surgical site infection, but not of pneumonia or empyema. Other trials have found that multiple doses of a cephalosporin can prevent infection after closed-tube thoracostomy for chest trauma with hemo- or pneumothorax . Insertion of chest tubes for other indications, such as spon- taneous pneumothorax, does not require antimicrobial prophylaxis.