title: Bactericidal antimicrobial cover in primary suture of perianal or pilonidal abscess. A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
abstract: The effect of 1-day treatment vs. 4-day treatment with metronidazole and ampicillin in association with primary closure of perianal and pilonidal abscesses was evaluated in a double-blind clinical trial. The patients were randomly allocated to 1-day (group I) or 4-day (group II) antibiotic regimen. No clinical signs of sepsis appeared in any patient. Primary healing, without fistula formation was achieved in all 17 perianal abscesses in the 1-day therapy group and in 14 of 15 in the 4-day group (non-significant difference). Excision with primary suture of pilonidal abscess resulted in primary healing in 20 of 26 cases in group I and 20 of 30 in group II (non-significant difference). Healing with formation of a new sinus or secondary healing occurred in four and two cases, respectively, in the 1-day therapy group, and in two and nine of the 4-day group. One-day administration of metronidazole/ampicillin is as effective as 4-day treatment in primary closure of perianal and pilonidal abscess. The procedure appears to be safe in both groups, but more efficacious in perianal abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Randers County Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lundhus
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gjøde
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrup
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terpling
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D008795:Metronidazole; D000667:Ampicillin