Antibiotic prophylaxis for ERCP: a comparison of oral ciprofloxacin with intravenous cephazolin in the prophylaxis of high-risk patients.
BACKGROUND
Cholangitis and septicaemia are serious complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). They occur mainly following therapeutic ERCP in the setting of an obstructed biliary system. The optimum prophylactic antibiotic regimen in such patients is not yet defined but usually depends on intravenous agents.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of oral ciprofloxacin with intravenous cephazolin.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients at high risk from septic complications were randomized prospectively to either oral ciprofloxacin (750 mg b.d.) or intravenous cephazolin (1 g b.d.), commenced at least 90 min prior to the ERCP and continued for 3 days. Bacteriological cultures were taken from bile during the procedure and from blood both immediately and at 24 h post-procedure.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in the pre-ERCP clinical or radiological findings or in the types of procedure performed. One patient did not undergo an ERCP and was excluded from the final analysis. Of the 77 patients in the ciprofloxacin group there were no positive blood cultures and one positive culture from a nasobiliary drain. Two out of the 72 cephazolin patients had positive blood cultures immediately post-ERCP; one of these two patients and one other cephazolin patient had positive bile cultures. There were no cases of cholangitis or septicaemia in the ciprofloxacin group and three cases in the cephazolin group. One patient from each treatment group died within the 7-day study. Adverse drug reactions were minimal and none of the different clinical outcomes in the two groups reached statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral ciprofloxacin is a cost-effective prophylactic agent for high-risk ERCP.
Davis
A J
AJ
Department of Gastroenterology, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
Kolios
G
G
Alveyn
C G
CG
Robertson
D A
DA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001646:Bile / Q000382:microbiology; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000382:microbiology; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D002437:Cefazolin