The reduction of surgical wound infections by prophylactic parenteral cephaloridine: A controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract In a series of 762 general surgical wounds 376 were selected at random to receive three parenteral doses of cephaloridine and 386 remained as untreated controls. In all types of operation, with the exception of wounds in the lower extremities associated with arterial surgery, the rate of wound infection was lowered by the prophylactic use of cephaloridine. The results were statistically significant for total wounds, clean wounds, total contaminated wounds, and contaminated wounds other than in colorectal surgery. We therefore recommend the routine use of three doses of cephaloridine.