Field antibiotics wish list

[Krin135 at aol.com]

In a message dated 23-Mar-05 22:06:45 Central Standard Time,  KMATTOX at aol.com 
writes:

In a  message dated 3/23/2005 7:02:35 P.M. Central Standard Time,   
cursic at gmail.com writes:

For the  surgeons on the list (others  too, if you feel like it): 
assume you're been  assigned to a small  field hospital in some remote
area that has been  decimated by some  natural or man-made disaster
(war, earthquake, tsunami,   whatever).  All supplies must be flown in
(the local infrastructure  is  nil).  Which three antibiotics would you
request to have  included in  your surgical cache?  Assume you'll be
doing mostly  amputations,  debridements, laparotomies and maybe a few
craniotomies  and  thoracotomies.


Sulfmylon (more specifically Naphenine  HYDROCLORIDE, not acetate)

Flagyl

Penicillin or second  generation cephalosporin


NON-antibiotic instruments, like knives,  and suture are more  important.    
ANTIBIOTICS DO NOT  PREVENT WOUND  INFECTION.   If I were to take 
antibiotics, I  
would look to use them  for SEPSIS, soft tissue infection, urinary  tract 
infection, pneumonia, and  meningitis.      



What about the use of Dakin's solution as an addition to plain purified  
water or saline for wound irrigation? I know that there San Diego study a couple  
of years ago showed no benefit in a blinded comparison between tap water and  
sterile saline...but was wondering about it's utility in a rougher  situation.
 
ck
 
Charles S. Krin, DO