title: Single-dose cefotetan or cefoxitin versus multiple-dose cefoxitin as prophylaxis in patients undergoing appendectomy for acute nonperforated appendicitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective, double-blind study was performed to examine the effects of prophylactic cefotetan and cefoxitin in postoperative wound infection for patients with nonperforated acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-six of 179 patients with a clinical diagnosis of appendicitis were evaluated and divided into three groups: group 1 received 2 g cefotetan preoperatively, group 2 received 2 g cefoxitin preoperatively, and group 3 received 2 g cefoxitin preoperatively followed by three postoperative doses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall wound infection rate was 4.6 percent. Group 2 (single-dose cefoxitin) had a significantly higher wound infection rate (11.1 percent) than group 1 (single-dose cefotetan) (zero percent) or group 3 (multiple-dose cefoxitin) (1.9 percent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-dose cefotetan and multiple-dose cefoxitin are equally effective. However, because of the greater convenience and markedly decreased cost, single-dose cefotetan is the prophylaxis of choice in appendectomy for nonperforated appendicitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Naval-Medical Center, San Diego.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Liberman
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Greason
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frame
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ragland
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D015313:Cefotetan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015313:Cefotetan; D002440:Cefoxitin