title: Cephazolin and metronidazole prophylaxis in head and neck surgery.
abstract: A seven-day course of cephazolin and metronidazole chemoprophylaxis for clean-contaminated head and neck oncological procedures is compared to results with previously published antibiotic regimens. Aetiological factors associated with increased rates of wound complications are analyzed. Retrospective analysis of procedures over a six-year period was performed. The overall wound complication rate was 28.1 per cent, comparing favourably with previously published results. A major fistula was the most common complication with a rate of 9.2 per cent. Factors statistically associated with increased rates of wound complications included: radical neck dissection, extended surgical procedures requiring flap reconstruction, previous tracheotomy, and race. This is the largest single institutional study to show that a seven-day course of cephazolin and metronidazole is an effective chemoprophylactic regimen in head and neck surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Saccogna
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Allphin
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D008795:Metronidazole; D002437:Cefazolin