title: Single-dose piperacillin versus triple-dose cefoxitin prophylaxis at vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy.
abstract: Two hundred fourteen women having vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy were entered into a prospective, randomized, blind clinical trial comparing a preoperative intravenous dose of piperacillin to three perioperative intravenous doses of cefoxitin given over an eight-hour period. Interregimen clinical, surgical, and outcome variables of the 207 evaluable subjects were statistically similar, but there were significant interprocedure differences in a variety of categories; many benefits exist when vaginal hysterectomy is possible. Efficacy of a single dose of piperacillin was similar to that of three cefoxitin doses. Seven women (3.4%) had major postoperative infection requiring parenteral antimicrobial therapy, two (1.9%) after vaginal hysterectomy and five (4.8%) after abdominal hysterectomy. Three of the latter five infections (60%) occurred after discharge from the hospital. Even with prophylaxis, postoperative anemia was associated with increased frequency of infection at the operative site after both procedures, and diabetes was associated with late infection of the abdominal incision after abdominal hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas 75235-9032.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hemsell
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hemsell
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nobles
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bawdon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D002440:Cefoxitin; D010878:Piperacillin