Wound infection after metronidazole infiltration.

Abstract

In state-run hospitals in India, pre-existing malnutrition and anaemia with late presentation, septicaemia and gross peritoneal contamination lead to a very high wound infection rate despite the use of systemic antibiotics. We studied the wound infection rate of subcutaneous infiltration of metronidazole (group B) versus irrigation with saline (group A) in patients undergoing exploratory laprotomy for perforation peritonitis with pyoperitoneum. The study included 30 patients in group A and 30 in group B. In group A 66.6% of the patients developed wound infection, whereas in group B 26.6% only developed wound infection. This difference is found to be statistically significant at a level of P < 0.01. There was no local complication attributable to infiltration of metronidazole in group B. Thus, we concluded that local infiltration of metronidazole at the incision is a safe and effective measure to control wound infection in cases of perforation peritonitis with pyoperitoneum.

• Authors: Pranshu Bhargava, Nidhi Mehrotra, Ajay Kumar
• Journal: Tropical doctor (Trop Doct) Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pg. 37-8 (Jan 2006) ISSN: 0049-4755 [Print] England
• PMID: 16483431 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Metronidazole

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Infective Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• India
• Laparotomy (adverse effects)
• Metronidazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Peritonitis (surgery)
• Surgical Wound Infection (drug therapy, epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Treatment Outcome