British journal of surgery · 1995 · 47 citations · 12 references
MedicinePerioperative MedicineSurgeryAntimicrobial PharmacotherapyInfection PreventionPerioperative Infection PreventionAntibiotic ProphylaxisAntimicrobial ProphylaxisPostoperative Infection PreventionProphylactic Antimicrobial UseSurgical Infection ManagementSurgical ProphylaxisAntibiotic Prophylaxis AdministrationAntibiotic Prophylaxis In SurgeryOral Antibiotic ProphylaxisPerioperative Prophylactic AntibioticsPostoperative ProphylaxisPostoperative Wound ComplicationsProphylaxis In Gastrointestinal SurgerySurgical Site Infection Prophylaxis
A total of 169 patients undergoing colorectal surgery were randomly allocated to receive either gentamicin plus metronidazole or oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole as prophylaxis; they were also allocated to receive cover for 1 or 3 days. Twenty-eight patients (17 per cent) developed postoperative wound infections. The proportion of patients with wound infections and other infective complications was significantly less (P < 0.02) in those receiving oral ciprofloxacin. Cover for 3 days was no better than that for only 1 day. Oral ciprofloxacin for prophylaxis may offer advantages in efficacy and ease of administration compared with parenteral antibiotics.
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