title: Effect of metronidazole and ampicillin on patients with gangrenous or perforated appendicitis. A comparative study.
abstract: A study comparing the effectiveness of metronidazole and ampicillin in preventing wound infection in gangrenous or perforated appendicitis without general peritonitis was performed. Metronidazole was given as suppository immediately after the operation (1 g) and the administration continued for 10 days. Initially, one suppository was given every 8 h for one or two days, thereafter one tablet (400 mg) every 8 h until 10 days after the operation. In the ampicillin group, ampicillin (4.0-6.0 g) was deposited intraperitoneally during surgery, followed by 1.0 g ampicillin every 6 h, first intravenously (or intramuscularly) for one or two days and thereafter as tablets. Of the 50 patients initially present in the study, 7 were excluded, 22 received ampicillin and 21 metronidazole. In the first group, 8 patients had perforated, and 14 patients gangrenous appendicitis. In the metronidazole group, the corresponding figures were 11 and 10. The mean hospitalization period after operation was 6.8 days for both groups. In the metronidazole group, wound infection was not observed. In the ampicillin group, 2 patients (9.1%) had wound infections.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000332:Aerobiosis; D000368:Aged; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole; D000667:Ampicillin