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PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTICS IN APPENDICECTOMY: A PROSPECTIVE DOUBLE BLIND RANDOMIZED STUDY
Author(s) -
O'Rourke Michael G. E.,
Wynne J. Michael,
Morahan Ronald J.,
Green Anthony J.,
Walker Rosslyn M.,
Wilson Margaret E.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1984.tb05442.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cefoxitin , metronidazole , antibiotics , randomized controlled trial , double blind , prospective cohort study , surgery , antibiotic prophylaxis , bacteriology , appendix , double blind study , randomization , general surgery , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , paleontology , placebo , alternative medicine , biology , bacteria , genetics , staphylococcus aureus
Our double blind prospective randomized trial comparing intravenous cefoxitin with rectal metronidazole in appendicectomy reveals both groups to be similar regarding basic data, with no significant difference in the results between the two drugs. Nearly all the wound infections occurred after the patient went home. Most were minor infections and the overall infection rate was 6%. The intravenous route was the more certain but the more expensive. Bacteriology suggests that the same flora were present in the appendiceal wall of normal and acute non‐perforated appendices. This would suggest bacteriologically that the same risks exist with non‐inflamed appendicectomy as occurs with inflamed non‐perforated appendices. These findings support the use of short course prophylaxis in appendicectomy.