8. TFC Antibiotics

Moxifloxacin is broad spectrum and kills most bacteria. It has few side effects. Give as soon as possible after life-threatening conditions have been addressed. Delays in antibiotic administration increase the risk of wound infections.

• IM ertapenem should be diluted with lidocaine (1 gm vial ertapenem with 3.2cc lidocaine without epinephrine).
• IM- administer into a deep muscle mass (gluteal, lateral thigh).
• IM-use within 1 hour after preparation.
• IV requires a 30-minute infusion time. 

The Combat Wound Medication Pack contains the following components: 

            - Moxifloxacin 400 mg one tablet (one), 

            - Meloxicam 15 mg one tablet (one),

           - and Acetaminophen 1300 mg extended release, (2) 650 mg caplets.

These meds should be carried by EVERYONE in the unit and self-administered as soon as possible after sustaining a wound.

Screen your units for drug allergies!

Patients with allergies to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not use Mobic.

Patients with allergies to fluoroquinolones, penicillins, or cephalosporins may need alternate antibiotics which should be selected by unit medical personnel during the pre-deployment phase. 

Check with your unit physician if unsure.

Care of casualties in the tactical combat environment should include the use of prophylactic antibiotics for all open wounds. This article recommends that oral gatifloxacin should be the antibiotic of choice because of its ease of carriage and administration, excellent spectrum of action and relatively mild side effect profile.  Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin are both fourth-generation fluoroquinolones that have an enhanced spectrum of activity and are given as a single daily 400-mg dose.  Based on their similarities, either moxifloxacin or gatifloxacin would be a good choice for an oral antibiotic to use on the battlefield.  Since gatifloxacin was removed from the market by the FDA in 2008, moxifloxacin is the oral antibiotic of choice for battlefield casualties with open wounds.

For those casualties unable to take oral antibiotics because of unconsciousness, penetrating abdominal trauma, or shock, intravenous cefotetan is recommended because of its longer duration of action than cefoxitin. Whereas cefoxitin and cefotetan appear to be equal in efficacy, the longer half-life and comparable cost make cefotetan a better choice for use by combat corpsmen and medics. Cefoxitin remains a viable alternative and a good second choice.

At the time this article was written, the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) guidelines had been widely practiced with excellent results throughout the Special Operations community.  However, there had been very little spread of the use of the TCCC guidelines into conventional units. This article reviews the use of the principles of TCCC by a mechanized infantry unit in Operation Iraqi Freedom1 One (OIF I).

Antibiotics were administered to all casualties with open wounds, even relatively minor fragmentation wounds. None of the casualties developed wound infections. The exact antibiotics recommended in the TCCC guidelines could not be obtained, but suitable alternatives were found. Soldiers who could take oral medicines received Levofloxacin, which was convenient due to its once daily dosing. Those wounded who could not take medicines orally received IV Cefazolin for extremity wounds and lV Ceftriaxone for abdominal injuries.