Five days versus one day of penicillin as prophylaxis in elective neurosurgical operations.
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.
Cartmill
T D
TD
Department of Microbiology, Regional Public Health Laboratory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
al Zahawi
M F
MF
Sisson
P R
PR
Ingham
H R
HR
Gould
F K
FK
Crone
P B
PB
Betty
M J
MJ
Crawford
P J
PJ
Kalbag
R M
RM
Mendelow
A D
AD
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*
D004917:Erythromycin; C100209:phenethicillin; D010400:Penicillin G; D010404:Penicillin V