title: A prospective randomized trial to compare triple dose mezlocillin with triple dose cefuroxime plus metronidazole as prophylaxis in colorectal surgery.
abstract: The results of a prospective randomized clinical trial to compare three dose regimens of mezlocillin with cefuroxime plus metronidazole for prophylaxis in emergency and elective colorectal surgery are reported. Severe wound infection occurred in five patients (10%) receiving mezlocillin and in four patients (7%) receiving cefuroxime and metronidazole. There were two episodes of septicaemia, each in the mezlocillin group. The total number of surgically related infections was less with cefuroxime plus metronidazole (n = 10) compared with mezlocillin (n = 17), but this was not statistically significant (P greater than 0.1).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Floor, Belfast City Hospital.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Mulholland
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Parks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008802:Mezlocillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D008795:Metronidazole; D002444:Cefuroxime; D008802:Mezlocillin