The incidence of postoperative infection and the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in pulmonary surgery. A review of 221 consecutive patients undergoing thoracotomy.
A study was made of the organisms cultured from the respiratory tract at or before operation and of the incidence of postoperative bronchopleural fistula, pneumonectomy space infection or chest infection in 221 consecutive patients undergoing thoracotomy. Patients receive either no antibiotics or one of three variations of an ampicillin/flucloxacillin mixture. Prophylactic systemic antibiotics significantly reduced the number of pneumonectomy space and chest infections; application of penicillin plus streptomycin powder to the bronchial stump had no effect. Systemic antibiotics given preoperatively reduced the incidence of bronchopleural fistula. The type of bacteria present in the preoperative sputum or bronchial lumen at operation was no help in predicting the effect therapy of postoperative infection.
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005436:Floxacillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
D005436:Floxacillin; D000667:Ampicillin; D003023:Cloxacillin