The current use of prophylactic antibiotics in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

A questionnaire distributed to plastic surgeons to determine their patterns of usage of systemic prophylactic antibacterial agents was answered by 1,025 respondents (73.7 percent). The patterns of usage among the respondents were determined for 29 circumstances and operations for the time of administration, and as influenced by 11 modifying factors. The data present the patterns of antibacterial use by plastic surgeons at this time.