Clinical Research Directory

Standard Versus Short Course Prophylactic Antibiotic in Femur and Tibia Shaft Fractures Managed With Intramedullary Interlocking Nail

Long-bone fractures, particularly of femur and tibia, are common following fall injury and road traffic accidents.1,2 The standard treatment is "intramedullary nailing," where a metal rod is inserted into the center of the bone to hold it in place.3,4 However, surgical site infection (SSI) and fracture related infection (FRI) remain significant complications of nailing that delay healing and increase healthcare costs.5,6 To prevent these infections, doctors give patients antibiotics around the time of surgery. However, there is ongoing debate about how long these antibiotics should be continued. In many regions, patients receive antibiotics for several days, but recent evidence suggests that a shorter course may be just as effective and could reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance and side effects. Study Question The goal of this study is to determine if a one-day (short) course of antibiotics is as effective as a three-day (standard) course in preventing infections after bone-nailing surgery. Hypotheses Null Hypothesis (H0): There is no significant difference in the incidence of infection or short-term clinical outcomes between the one-day (short-course) and three-day (standard-course) antibiotic protocols. Alternative Hypothesis (H1): There is a significant difference in the incidence of infection or short-term clinical outcomes between the one-day (short-course) and three-day (standard-course) antibiotic protocols.

Cocreating Action to Improve Rationality in the Health System

Despite widespread recognition of social, economic, or environmental health determinants, health action remains heavily dominated by individual-level solutions (e.g., medication, patient counselling, vaccination). This study aims to stimulate changes in health system functioning by demonstrating how the cocreation of actions to address psychological well-being, cardiovascular health, and antimicrobial resistance from within the community can alleviate the burden on primary care services, reduce medicalisation and increase health equity. The scientific approach uses mixed methods and incorporates theory from multiple disciplines. This study will appraise how the current system addresses psychological well-being, cardiovascular (CV) health, and rational use of antibiotics using a population survey, a survey of patients collecting their medication at community pharmacies, aggregate health service indicators on medication consumption and primary care consultations, and qualitative methods exploring stakeholders' perceptions.The investigators will undertake community-based participatory research to engage citizen scientists in the cocreation of community-led actions to promote psychological well-being, CV health, and prevent antimicrobial resistance. The design, implementation, and evaluation of the actions will apply an assets-based approach and apply theories and frameworks from implementation science in an iterative manner over 3 years. Finally, the impact of the cocreated actions will be analysed, considering effectiveness and broader contextual issues such as initiative adoption, implementation, and maintenance. The investigators will use a before-after comparison of survey indicators, an interrupted time-series analysis of health service data and qualitative analysis. The goal is to demonstrate how the integration of community action with attention to the social determinants of health, can lead to a more rational approach to health care and ultimately improve health and health equity.