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A comparison of the prophylactic value of cefotetan and metronidazole in appendectomy

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Abstract

In a prospective randomized trial of 97 patients undergoing appendectomy, the prophylactic value of cefotetan, a new semi-synthetic cephamycin with activity against a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, has been compared with that of metronidazole. A significantly lower wound sepsis rate was found with cefotetan (4.2%) than with metronidazole (19.1%). The superior results of cefotetan appear to be due to its anti-aerobic as well as anti-anaerobic activity.

Résumé

Une étude randomisée prospective chez 97 malades subissant une appendicectomie a été entreprise pour apprécier la valeur prophylactique du cefotetan, une nouvelle cephamycine semisynthétique à large action sur les germes aérobies et anaérobies, en comparant son action à celle du metronidazole. Un taux inférieur d'infection pariétale de valeur significative a été constaté avec ce nouvel agent (4.2%) par rapport à l'ancien (19.1%). Les résultats supérieurs obtenus avec le cefotetan sont dus à la dualité de son action antibactérienne sur les germes aérobies et les germes anaérobies.

Resumen

En un estudio prospectivo y aleatorizado sobre 97 pacientes sometidos a apendicectomía, se comparó el valor del uso de cefotetan, una nueva cefamicina semisintética contra una amplia variedad de bacterias aeróbicas y anaeróbicas, con el del uso de metronidazol. Se encontró una tasa de infección de la herida significativamente menor con el cefotetan (4.2%) que con el metronidazol (19.1%). Los superiores resultados del cefotetan parecen ser el resultado de su actividad tanto antiaeróbica como antianaerobica.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry

    John A. C. Buckels F.R.C.S., Roger Brookstein F.R.C.S., Robert Bonser F.R.C.S., Barry Bullen F.R.C.S. & John Alexander-Williams M.D., Ch.M., F.R.C.S., F.A.C.S. (Consultant Surgeon)

  2. The General Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, B4 6NH, Birmingham, UK

    John A. C. Buckels F.R.C.S., Roger Brookstein F.R.C.S., Robert Bonser F.R.C.S., Barry Bullen F.R.C.S. & John Alexander-Williams M.D., Ch.M., F.R.C.S., F.A.C.S. (Consultant Surgeon)

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  1. John A. C. Buckels F.R.C.S.
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  2. Roger Brookstein F.R.C.S.
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  3. Robert Bonser F.R.C.S.
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  4. Barry Bullen F.R.C.S.
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  5. John Alexander-Williams M.D., Ch.M., F.R.C.S., F.A.C.S.
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Buckels, J.A.C., Brookstein, R., Bonser, R. et al. A comparison of the prophylactic value of cefotetan and metronidazole in appendectomy. World J. Surg. 9, 814–817 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01655202

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01655202

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