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Efficacy of piperacillin‐tazobactam in the treatment of surgical wound infection after clean‐contaminated head and neck oncologic surgery
Author(s) -
Rodrigo Juan P.,
Sŭrez Carlos,
Bernaldez Ricardo,
Collado Diego
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20027
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , piperacillin/tazobactam , piperacillin , tazobactam , perioperative , complication , head and neck cancer , antibiotics , radiation therapy , biology , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , pseudomonas aeruginosa , genetics
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. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 823–828, 2004