title: Infectious problems in elective surgery of the alimentary tract: the influence of pre-operative factors. The Norwegian Gastro-Intestinal Group (NORGAS).
abstract: The influence of some pre-operative factors on infectious complications after elective abdominal surgery was investigated in a prospective multi-centre study of 1537 patients in surgical departments regularly using a standardized prophylactic antibiotic regimen. A total of 1101 patients received 1600 mg tinidazole plus 400 mg doxycycline intravenously 1-hour pre-operatively. Analysis of the results showed that increasing age, malignancy, risk factors noted by the surgeon before the surgical procedure, and discrepancies between assumed disease and peri-operative findings were associated with significantly more post-operative complications, but not more infectious complications related to peri-operative contamination. Pre-operative hospital stay did not influence the infection rate provided that prophylaxis was given.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009664:Norway; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014011:Tinidazole; D004318:Doxycycline