Multicenter phase II study of antimicrobial prophylaxis in low-risk patients undergoing distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
In Japan, antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) is typically administered for 3 to 4 days postoperatively for clean-contaminated operations such as distal gastrectomy. This far exceeds the recommended 2h or less laid out by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for the prevention of surgical-site infections (SSIs), after a clean-contaminated operation.


METHODS
Patients with gastric cancer, which was curable by distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphandectomy, were assigned to a multicenter phase II study. One gram of cefazolin within 3 min of the first surgical incision and intraoperative supplements of g of cefazolin every h were administered. AMP was not administered after skin closure unless postoperative infection occurred. The occurrence of SSIs was monitored until postoperative day 30 as the primary endpoint of this study.


RESULTS
In 56 patients, three SSIs (5.4%) and one remote site infection (1.8%) developed. No other postoperative infections were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that the CDC guidelines regarding AMP may also be sufficient for patients undergoing clean-contaminated operations in Japan.
Imamura
Hiroshi
H
Department of Surgery, Sakai City Hospital,, Sakai, Osaka, 590-0064, Japan.
Furukawa
Hiroshi
H
Iijima
Shohei
S
Sugihara
Seichi
S
Tsujinaka
Toshimasa
T
Tsukuma
Hideaki
H
Shimokawa
Toshio
T
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002437:Cefazolin