Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Simple Hand Lacerations

Simple hand lacerations, defined as hand lacerations that do not involve special structures such as bones, tendons, vessels, or nerves, are common in the emergency departments. The exact rate of infection in such wounds is unclear. It is also not clear whether prescribing prophylactic antibiotics reduces the risk of infection in simple hand lacerations. The objective of this randomized double blind controlled study is to: 1. Identify the rate of infection in simple hand lacerations, 2. Identify factors or wound characteristics that increase the risk of infection, and 3. Assess whether prescribing prophylactic antibiotics decreases the risk of infections in such wounds compared to placebo.