Abstract |
In an open prospective study of postoperative infectious complications, patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups receiving parenteral single-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis (1 g or 3 g metronidazole or 1 g metronidazole + 3 g nalidixic acid). Because of an unacceptably high rate of surgical infection in all three groups (36%, 29% and 39%, p greater than 0.1) among the first 103 evaluable patients, the study was discontinued. Nalidixic acid--though effective in in vitro tests of bacterial susceptibility--thus was found to be of little or no value as prophylaxis against Gram-negative infection. As the observed infection rate when metronidazole was given at the start of operation was seven-fold that previously found in the same department when 1 g metronidazole was administered 3-4 hours preoperatively (28/103 vs. 2/50, p less than 0.01), the timing of metronidazole prophylaxis was assumed to be potentially important for its ability to protect also against aerobic postoperative infection.
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Authors | P A Kling, L G Burman |
Journal | Acta chirurgica Scandinavica
(Acta Chir Scand)
Vol. 154
Issue 4
Pg. 305-9
(Apr 1988)
ISSN: 0001-5482 [Print] Sweden |
PMID | 3287815
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Metronidazole
- Nalidixic Acid
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Bacterial Infections
(prevention & control)
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Colon
(surgery)
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Metronidazole
(administration & dosage)
- Middle Aged
- Nalidixic Acid
(administration & dosage)
- Postoperative Complications
(prevention & control)
- Prospective Studies
- Random Allocation
- Rectum
(surgery)
- Surgical Wound Infection
(prevention & control)
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