title: A comparison between amoxycillin/clavulanate and mezlocillin in abdominal surgical prophylaxis.
abstract: A randomized comparative study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) compared with mezlocillin for the prevention of wound infection in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. There was no difference in overall wound infection rates between the amoxycillin/clavulanate treated group and the mezlocillin group. When sub-groups were examined for total infections no significant difference was seen between antibiotic groups in patients undergoing clean/potentially contaminated operations or contaminated operations, although more deep infections were encountered in the amoxycillin/clavulanate group in comparison with the mezlocillin group, in contaminated operations. The type of operation performed also failed to show any difference in those patients undergoing upper gastro-intestinal, appendiceal, colonic, or biliary operations. The infections in those receiving amoxycillin/clavulanate were largely of bowel origin and predominantly sensitive to amoxycillin/clavulanate. Those in the mezlocillin group were predominantly staphylococcal in origin. Amoxycillin/clavulanate appears to be an effective antibiotic for use as a single agent in surgical prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Menzies
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008802:Mezlocillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin; D008802:Mezlocillin