title: Antibiotic prophylaxis in lower-extremity amputations due to ischemia. A prospective, randomized trial of cephalothin versus methicillin.
abstract: The efficiency of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in amputation surgery was studied in a prospective, randomized trial of a first-generation cephalosporin (cephalothin) compared with a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam stable penicillin (methicillin). Eighty-eight patients received cephalothin 2 g X 4 on the day of operation, while 86 patients received methicillin 1 g X 4. The patients were followed up for 21 days. Infected wounds occurred in 14.8% of the patients in the cephalothin group, compared with 14% in the methicillin group. The frequency of deep infections was 10.2% versus 4.7% (P = 0.1611). The reamputation frequency was 18.2% in the cephalothin group compared with 12.8% in the methicillin group; the frequency of below-knee reamputation was 18.4% versus 7.7% (P = 0.1469). No clostridial infections were found. The study did not demonstrate any significant difference between cephalothin and methicillin in the prophylaxis for lower-extremity amputations, although the latter drug tended to be the best choice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, E. Aarhus Municipal Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Wethelund
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalsgaard
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Gregersen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lucht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002512:Cephalothin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D008712:Methicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D008712:Methicillin; D002512:Cephalothin