A retrospective study over 5 years evaluated the medical records of 78 patients who had suffered lateral skull base fractures. The purpose of the present study was to answer the question of whether
antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the risk of
meningitis. Fifty-five of 78 patients (71%) were given no
antibiotics, among whom four developed
meningitis. In 29% of patients treated with
antibiotics, two developed
meningitis. This difference was not significant. Even when cases with uncomplicated ("simple") lateral skull base fractures were separated from those with severe additional lesions related to their
injuries, no significant correlation was found in the occurrence of
meningitis despite the use of an
antibiotic. Eight of 14 patients with initial otoliquorrheas were treated with
antibiotics, with two of these 8 patients developing
meningitis. None of the patients who did not receive
antibiotics developed
meningitis. Our findings shows that it is not advisable to treat patients who have suffered from lateral skull base fractures with prophylactic
antibiotics. Instead, these patients should be examined frequently and appropriate
antibiotic therapy prescribed at the first clinical symptoms of
meningitis.