Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
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The use of prophylactic antibiotics for severe burns in general settings remains controversial and is not suggested by recent guidelines owing to lack of evidence for efficacy. We examined the hypothesis that prophylactic systemic antibiotic therapy may reduce mortality in patients with severe burns. ⋯ Prophylactic antibiotics use may result in improved 28-day in-hospital mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with severe burns but not in those who do not receive mechanical ventilation.