Efficacy and safety of parenteral amoxycillin/ clavulanate for prevention of surgical site infection following abdominal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of parenteral amoxycillin/ clavulanate for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) following intra-abdominal surgery.


METHODS
This prospective opened non-comparative clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand between 1 April 2004 and 30 September 2004. Prophylactic amoxycillin/clavulanate (Cavumox) at a dose of 1.2 gram was given intravenously to all patients who underwent emergency or elective intra-abdominal procedures. All patients were scheduled to follow-up visits at 7, 14 and 30 days post operatively for monitoring the occurrence of SSI.


RESULTS
Thirty emergency appendectomies (85.7%) and other 5 elective surgical procedures (14.3%) were performed in 35 patients including 14 males and 21 females with a mean age of 37 (range, 18-72) years. No SSI or drug allergy was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Parenteral amoxycillin/clavulanate is a safe and effective antibiotic as the monotherapy for prevention of SSI following intra-abdominal surgery.
Lohsiriwat
Darin
D
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sidls@mahidol.ac.th
Chinswangwatanakul
Vitoon
V
Lohsiriwat
Varut
V
Leelaratsamee
Amorn
A
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination