Use of peroperative cefoxitin to prevent infection after colonic and rectal surgery.

Abstract

A double-blind, controlled trial was performed to assess the effect of a short intraoperative course of Cefoxitin, a new broad spectrum cephamycin antibiotic, on the incidence of septic complications following elective colonic and rectal surgery. In addition to a two-day preoperative bowel preparation, patients entered in the study received a short course of either Cefoxitin (three 2g intravenous bolus doses at two-hour intervals, the first before skin incision) or a matching placebo. Thirty-two patients received Cefoxitin and 33 patients received the placebo. Postoperative abdominal wound infections developed in one (3%) of the Cefoxitin-treated patients and nine (27%) of the placebo-treated patients. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0.01). Septic complications remote from the abdominal wound, e.g. intra-abdominal abscesses, occurred in both Cefoxitin-treated and placebo-treated patients, but numbers were too small for meaningful analysis. The study shows that even a very short peroperative course of Cefoxitin is highly effective in reducing postoperative abdominal wound infections after elective colorectal surgery.

• Authors: C E Hoffmann, P J McDonald, J M Watts
• Journal: Annals of surgery (Ann Surg) Vol. 193 Issue 3 Pg. 353-6 (Mar 1981) ISSN: 0003-4932 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7011223 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cefoxitin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Bacterial Infections (prevention & control)
• Cefoxitin (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Colon (surgery)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Intraoperative Period
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Complications (prevention & control)
• Premedication
• Rectum (surgery)
• Surgical Wound Infection (prevention & control)