Single-Dose Clavulanate-Potentiated Amoxycillin versus Three-Dose Cefotaxime in the Prevention of Wound Infection following Elective Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract

A prospective randomized study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of clavulanate-potentiated amoxycillin with that of cefotaxime as prophylactic agents for the prevention of sepsis following elective cholecystectomy. One hundred patients were randomized into two treatment groups. In the first group, each patient received a single intravenous dose (1200 mg) of clavulanate-potentiated amoxycillin 2 h before surgery. In the second group, patients were given intravenous cefotaxime, in three doses (2 g each) during surgery, and 6 and 12 h after their operation. No case of serious post-operative sepsis occurred in either group. Superficial wound infection occurred in 2% of patients receiving a single pre-operative dose of clavulanate-potentiated amoxycillin and in 6% of those given cefotaxime according to the three-dose regimen.