Metronidazole prophylaxis in acute mural appendicitis: failure of a single intra-operative infusion to reduce wound infection.

Abstract

The efficacy of a single 500 mg intravenous intra-operative dose of metronidazole in the prevention of postoperative wound infection, following appendicectomy for acute mural appendicitis, was studied in a prospective randomized placebo controlled trial. Fourteen of the 96 patients (14.6%) in the metronidazole group and 13 of the 94 in the placebo group (13.8%) developed postoperative wound infection. Late sepsis was noted in 4 out of the 96 patients in the metronidazole group and in one of the 94 patients in the placebo group. This study suggests that a single intra-operative dose of metronidazole dose not reduce the incidence of postoperative wound infection following appendicectomy for acute mural appendicitis.

• Authors: M E Ahmed, S Z Ibrahim, Y E Arabi, M A Hassan
• Journal: The Journal of hospital infection (J Hosp Infect) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 260-4 (Nov 1987) ISSN: 0195-6701 [Print] England
• PMID: 2891754 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Metronidazole

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Appendectomy
• Child
• Drug Evaluation
• Female
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Intraoperative Period
• Male
• Metronidazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Postoperative Complications (prevention & control)
• Prospective Studies
• Random Allocation
• Wound Infection (prevention & control)