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Cephalothin, cefoxitin, or metronidazole in elective colonic surgery?

A single-blind randomized trial

  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

A randomized controlled trial aimed at comparing the individual efficacy of cephalothin, cefoxitin, and metronidazole in the prevention of postoperative wound infection was performed among 74 colorectal surgical patients. Of 28 patients on cephalothin, seven (25 per cent) developed a postoperative infection, but among 23 patients in each of the other two groups, only one (4 per cent) in each group became infected. These results confirm the primary importance of anaerobes in the causation of postoperative sepsis after colorectal surgery.

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Panichi, G., Pantosti, A., Giunchi, G. et al. Cephalothin, cefoxitin, or metronidazole in elective colonic surgery?. Dis Colon Rectum 25, 783–786 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553311

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553311

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