Efficacy and safety of two cephalosporins in the perioperative prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal or vaginal hysterectomies or gynaecological laparotomies: a prospective randomized study

The aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy or gynaecological laparotomy to improve the prevention of surgical wound infections. One hundred and ninety-nine patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: the first group (n = 100) received perioperative prophylaxis using 1 g cefotiam (Spizef) and 0.5 g metronidazole (Clont) intravenously 30 min before surgery, whereas the second group (n = 99) was treated with 2 g cefoxitin (Mefoxitin) intravenously, also 30 min before surgery. The efficacy of the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was assessed clinically and on the basis of laboratory parameters. No wound infections were observed in 97 patients (97%) of the cefotiam-treated group and in 94 patients (94%) of the cefoxitin-treated group. No systemic postoperative infections were observed in 81% of the patients treated with cefotiam combined with metronidazole and in 85% of the patients treated with cefoxitin. The good tolerability of the drugs administered was proven in 98% of the patients treated with cefotiam and metronidazole and in 97% of the patients treated with cefoxitin. In both groups 3 patients developed nausea and/or vomiting, respectively, due to the antibiotic prophylaxis. A low infection rate after gynaecological surgery was observed. Cefotiam as a low dosage combined with metronidazole was as effective as cefoxitin. Cephalosporins of the second generation in combination with metronidazole can, therefore, be considered effective and safe drugs in the prevention of postsurgical infections.