cefoxitin and Abdomen--Acute

A double-blind trial was conducted in 385 patients with suspected bacterial intra-abdominal infections to compare the efficacy and safety of ampicillin-sulbactam with cefoxitin. Patients were randomized to receive either 3 g ampicillin-sulbactam (2 g ampicillin-1 g sulbactam), or 2 g cefoxitin, every 6 hours. To be evaluable, patients had to demonstrate positive culture evidence of peritoneal infection at the time of operation. A total of 197 patients were evaluable for clinical efficacy. The two treatment groups were comparable in demographic features and in the presence of risk factors for infection. Clinical success (absence of infection and of adverse drug reaction) was observed in 86% of patients in the ampicillin-sulbactam group and 78% in the cefoxitin group. Eradication of infection occurred in 88% of the ampicillin-sulbactam group and 79% of the cefoxitin group. There were no differences in the nature or frequency of side effects observed in the two groups. Ampicillin-sulbactam demonstrated no difference in safety or efficacy when compared with cefoxitin in the treatment of serious intra-abdominal infections of bacterial origin.

Topics: Abdomen, Acute; Adult; Ampicillin; Bacterial Infections; Cefoxitin; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Peritonitis; Prospective Studies; Sulbactam

168 patients undergoing acute abdominal surgery for suspected peritoneal contamination were randomized consecutively to receive either a combination of ampicillin, mecillinam and metronidazole (group I) or cefoxitin (group II). Seventy-nine patients were evaluable in group I and 69 in group II. Postoperative surgical infections were seen in a total of 17 patients, 6 in group I (7.6%) and 11 in group II (15.9%). Evaluation of potential resistance development, side-effects and a trend towards better efficacy, together with a positive cost benefit analysis, have led us to adopt the combination of ampicillin, mecillinam and metronidazole as the standard treatment in cases of acute abdominal surgery. In the 18 months following the conclusion of the study, 263 patients undergoing acute abdominal surgery were treated with the triple combination. The infection rate in this material was 4.6%.

Topics: Abdomen, Acute; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Amdinocillin; Ampicillin; Cefoxitin; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Metronidazole; Middle Aged; Penicillin Resistance; Postoperative Complications; Prognosis; Random Allocation; Surgical Wound Infection

Topics: Abdomen, Acute; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cefoxitin; Doxycycline; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Hepatitis; Humans; Laparoscopy; Metronidazole; Oophoritis; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Peritonitis; Salpingitis; Young Adult