Antibiotic prophylaxis—Hobson’s choice in burns management

Antibiotic prophylaxis is a routine procedure in management of burns. As such it is a safe practice, yet unusual complications can occur with the use of even safest antibiotics and their emergency management may be life saving. Here we present a case of 35% second and third degree burns who was taken for a second sitting of stamp grafting for remnant raw areas, who was administered intraoperative prophylactic antibiotic, developed a series of unusual complications sequentially, which were life threatening. Prompt recognition of signs and symptoms of adverse reactions of the drug used and timely management resulted in the successful outcome. A good team effort by surgeon, anaesthetist and the physician was mandatory.