title: Efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of surgical wound infection after clean-contaminated head and neck oncologic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis has significantly reduced surgical wound infection rates, this complication is still a frequent complication of head and neck cancer surgery. Because these infections are typically polymicrobial, our study evaluated the safety and efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of surgical wound infection after clean-contaminated head and neck oncologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicenter, prospective clinical trial, 70 patients with surgical wound infection received piperacillin-tazobactam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of patients who were evaluable, 92.4% were also clinically cured or improved, and the bacteriologic eradication rate was 80.3%. Of the 70 patients enrolled in the study, six (8.5%) experienced six adverse events: two cases of moderate diarrhea, one allergic skin reaction, and three cases of phlebitis. No deaths were attributable to the study drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Piperacillin-tazobactam is a good choice of treatment as monotherapy for surgical wound infection after clean-contaminated head and neck oncologic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33006 Oviedo-Asturias, Spain. jrodrigo@hcas.sespa.es
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sŭrez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernaldez
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010878:Piperacillin