Single-dose cefmetazole versus multiple dose cefoxitin for prophylaxis in abdominal surgery.
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.
DiPiro
J T
JT
University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Augusta.
Welage
L S
LS
Levine
B A
BA
Wing
P E
PE
Stanfield
J A
JA
Gaskill
H V
HV
Scarfoni
D S
DS
Schentag
J J
JJ
Bowden
T A
TA
Williams
J S
JS
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*
D015311:Cefmetazole; D002440:Cefoxitin