title: Antimicrobial prophylaxis in head and neck surgery.
abstract: In this random study, 60 patients were given either cefotaxime, or ceftriaxone as a prophylactic measure in cervicofacial surgery. Each antibiotic was administered during a 48-hour period starting 1 h before the operation. Twenty-three patients underwent major cervicofacial surgery including opening of the pharynx or the buccal cavity by the cervical route. Only a single postoperative infection was observed as a result of a salivary fistula on the 2nd postoperative day. The two antibiotics have turned out to be very efficient as short-term prophylactic treatment in cervicofacial surgery. In other respects, the much longer half-life of ceftriaxone means that a single daily dose can be given. Finally, the cost of the prophylactic treatment is smaller using ceftriaxone than cefotaxime.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panosetti
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smolik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002439:Cefotaxime