title: Single or multiple doses of metronidazole and ampicillin in elective colorectal surgery. A randomized trial.
abstract: A randomized trial including 294 patients was performed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of single vs. multiple doses of antibiotics in elective colorectal surgery. All patients received 1.5 g metronidazole and 3.0 g ampicillin peroperatively and were randomized to: no further prophylactic antibiotic treatment, or ampicillin 1 g X 3 and metronidazole 0.5 g X 3 given intravenously during the second and third postoperative days. Deep wound infection was seen in 9/149 (6 percent) receiving a single dose and in 8/145 (6 percent) receiving multiple doses. No differences were found in the two groups between frequencies of anastomotic dehiscences, intra-abdominal abscesses, sepsis, and pulmonary infections. The two groups were similar according to distribution of sex, age, diagnosis, and type of surgery. A single peroperative dose of metronidazole and ampicillin is a simple and satisfactory antibiotic prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Klaaborg
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kronborg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D011897:Random Allocation; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole; D000667:Ampicillin