Topical ampicillin in the appendicectomy wound: report of double-blind trial.
One hundred and thirty unselected patients undergoing appendicectomy were treated with topical ampicillin powder or topical placebo powder (lactose) before closing the wound. The postoperative wound infection rates were 3% in the ampicillin-treated group and 24% in the control group, a significant difference. This difference was not influenced by the degree of inflammation in the appendix. No side-effects of treatment were observed.
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000473:pathology; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007785:Lactose; D010919:Placebos; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D010919:Placebos; D000667:Ampicillin; D007785:Lactose