title: Five days versus one day of penicillin as prophylaxis in elective neurosurgical operations.
abstract: Of 423 patients undergoing elective cranial and spinal operations, infections due to Staphylococcus aureus occurred in 3 of 217 (1.4%) receiving penicillin for 1 day, in none of 206 receiving penicillin for 5 days. There was no significant difference in rates of infection between the two groups receiving penicillin. It is concluded that penicillin for 1 day is as effective as penicillin for 5 days, in the prevention of wound infections due to S. aureus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Regional Public Health Laboratory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Cartmill
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: al Zahawi
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sisson
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Crone
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Betty
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kalbag
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mendelow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011292:Premedication; D011897:Random Allocation; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin; C100209:phenethicillin; D010400:Penicillin G; D010404:Penicillin V