Amoxicillin-clavulanate prophylaxis against wound infections after clean-contaminated surgery. A controlled,...

In a single-blind, prospective randomized and controlled trial, amoxicillin-clavulanate was compared with gentamicin plus clindamycin as perioperative prophylaxis for 24 hours in clean-contaminated abdominal surgery. Proven infections of the abdominal incision occurred in one of 59 evaluable patients given amoxicillin-clavulanate and one of 43 with gentamicin/clindamycin. In the latter group there was also one incisional perineal wound infection. At follow-up enquiry by telephone around postoperative day 30, four patients in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group reported minor wound discharge for which they had not sought medical attention. Intraperitoneal infection occurred in one patient of that group, and in three of the gentamicin/clindamycin group. Both regimens thus were effective and safe as prophylaxis in clean-contaminated abdominal surgery.