title: Antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac operations.
abstract: This clinical trial, which was composed of 1,031 adults undergoing cardiac operations, compared the efficacy of a single dose of 1 g of ceftriaxone with a 48-our regimen consisting of flucloxacillin and gentamicin. There was no significant difference (p = 0.89) in the overall incidence of major infections: 30 of 515 patients (5.8%; 95% confidence interval, 5.4% to 6.2%) taking ceftriaxone and 29 of 516 patients (5.6%; 95% confidence interval, 5.2% to 6.0%) taking flucloxacillin and gentamicin. Subgroup analyses, with a lower statistical power, failed to show a significant difference between patients who received ceftriaxone and those who received flucloxacillin/gentamicin: major sternal wound infections arose in 2.7% of the patients taking ceftriaxone versus 1.6% in those on the 48-hour regimen (p = 0.20) and major limb wound infections arose in 4.2% and 5.4%, respectively (p = 0.44). Single-dose prophylaxis was associated with fewer intravenous administrations (864 doses versus 9,570 doses) and cost less (A$17,248 versus A$78,510). Although the regimen that included gentamicin was associated with the greatest biochemical impairment of renal function, the overall toxicity for both groups was low. We conclude that a single dose of ceftriaxone provided cost-efficient prophylaxis for adults undergoing cardiac operations when compared with a 48-hour regimen of gentamicin and flucloxacillin. The general principle revealed by our data is that the short-term administration of an appropriate antibiotic regimen represents optimal prophylaxis for patients undergoing cardiac procedures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005436:Floxacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication / Q000191:economics; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D005436:Floxacillin; D002443:Ceftriaxone