Antibiotic prophylaxis for orthognathic surgery: a prospective, comparative, randomized study between amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and penicillin.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic efficacy after the correction of dentofacial deformities between short- and long-term penicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was prospective, randomized, and double blinded. Patients were separated into four groups randomly: short-term and long-term (5 days) penicillin and short-term and long-term (5 days) amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.

RESULTS: One hundred twenty two patients were assigned randomly into the four groups. Infection developed in a patient in the short-term amoxicillin-clavulanic acid group and in a patient in the long-term penicillin group.

CONCLUSION: There were no differences in infection between the two groups of antibiotics. Based on the present study, short-term penicillin is still the most appropriate choice for prophylactic antibiotic in orthognathic surgery.