Efficacy of oral ofloxacin for single-dose perioperative prophylaxis in general surgery--a controlled randomized clinical study.
BACKGROUND
Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis surely reduces surgical infection rate. Pharmacokinetic data of oral ofloxacin in combination with its antibacterial spectrum suggest effective protection against perioperative infection. In addition, costs, adverse effects, and induction of microbial resistance are low. Therefore we performed a controlled randomized study comparing oral and intravenous single dose prophylaxis.


METHODS
A total of 61 patients undergoing colonic or pancreatic resection randomly received either a single dose standard intravenous prophylaxis or ofloxacin 400 mg and metronidazole 500 mg orally 2 h before surgery. Postoperative infections were recorded for 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Groups were very well comparable regarding age, overweight, concomitant disease, type and duration of surgery, blood loss, and volume support. Infectious complications occurred in 14.8% after parenteral and 3.3% after enteral antibiotic prophylaxis. There was no difference in post-operative hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
The data demonstrate that single-dose oral ofloxacin is at least as effective as a standard intravenous prophylaxis in patients with colonic or pancreatic resection. It offers significant advantages regarding costs and ease of administration.
Schwarz
M
M
Department of General Surgery, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstrasse 9, 89075 Ulm, Germany.
Isenmann
R
R
Thomsen
J
J
Gaus
W
W
Beger
H G
HG
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008802:Mezlocillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D015242:Ofloxacin; D008802:Mezlocillin