title: Single-dose cefmetazole versus multiple dose cefoxitin for prophylaxis in abdominal surgery.
abstract: One hundred and ninety-five patients undergoing abdominal surgical procedures completed a multicentre, randomized, open-label study comparing the safety and efficacy of cefmetazole and cefoxitin for the prevention of postoperative wound infection. Cefmetazole was administered iv in a single 2 g dose given within 90 min of the operation. Cefoxitin was administered in a single 2 g, similarly timed, preoperative dose and two additional doses given at 6 h intervals after surgery. For operations that exceeded 2-4 h duration an additional dose of each agent was administered. Patients undergoing colorectal operations received oral neomycin and erythromycin as bowel preparation. Colorectal operations were performed most frequently (49% of patients) followed by cholecystectomies (26%) and gastroduodenal procedures (21%). The operative site infection rate was 6.5% for cefmetazole and 7.7% for cefoxitin (P greater than 0.05). Serious drug related adverse effects were not observed. This study demonstrates that administration of single-dose cefmetazole is as effective as a standard three dose regimen of cefoxitin for prophylaxis with abdominal operations.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Augusta.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: DiPiro
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Welage
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Wing
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stanfield
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Gaskill
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Scarfoni
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Schentag
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D015311:Cefmetazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015311:Cefmetazole; D002440:Cefoxitin