title: Selection of resistance to gentamicin and netilmicin in the faecal flora following prophylaxis for colo-rectal surgery.
abstract: The selection of aminoglycoside-resistant bowel flora, following the administration of either gentamicin or netilmicin in combination with metronidazole for prophylaxis, during colo-rectal surgery in 88 patients has been examined. Both antibiotic regimens resulted in the selection of an aminoglycoside-resistant flora in a total of 57 (65%) of patients: in half of the patients there was a net gain in the aminoglycoside-resistant flora, and in 13 (15%) one aminoglycoside-resistant strain present prior to prophylaxis was displaced by another following operation. Three patients (3%) lost aminoglycoside-resistant strains after prophylaxis. Most of the resistant organisms selected were considered to be of little importance as potential pathogens, at least in the short term. In only a small minority (5%) of patients were aminoglycoside-resistant enterobacteria isolated. Aminoglycoside-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was not isolated. Of the resistant enterobacteria, only one strain, an isolate of Enterobacter cloacae selected in a patient receiving gentamicin, carried a resistance determinant which was self-transmissible to Escherichia coli.
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009428:Netilmicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D008795:Metronidazole; D009428:Netilmicin