title: Simple peroperative antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis in elective neurosurgical operations.
abstract: From August 1981 to February 1982 postoperative infections due to different strains of penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred in 20 of 467 patients (4.3%) undergoing elective cranial and spinal operations. These infections were not attributable to defects in procedures or the theatre environment, therefore chemoprophylaxis was instituted. In the following 8 months, when patients were given penicillin G and sulphadiazine for 5 days commencing immediately postoperatively, S. aureus infections occurred in five of 579 patients (0.9%). In a subsequent randomized uncontrolled study, infections occurred in six of 265 patients receiving penicillin (2.3%), three of 270 receiving penicillin and sulphadiazine (1.1%) and one of 45 receiving erythromycin (2.2%) immediately postoperatively for 5 days. In a further study in which 587 patients received penicillin for 5 days commencing immediately preoperatively, infections due to S. aureus occurred in six (1.1%). Infections due to gram-negative organisms were seen in five (0.4%) of 1167 patients in the two uncontrolled studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Newcastle General Hospital.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kalbag
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sisson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Allcutt
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Betty
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gillham
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hankinson
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Strong
mesh_terms: D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009493:Neurosurgery; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011897:Random Allocation; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D013411:Sulfadiazine; D010400:Penicillin G