Cefuroxime for prevention of postoperative coxitis. One versus three doses tested in a randomized multicenter study...

Infection prophylaxis in hip replacement with one perioperative dose of cefuroxime was evaluated in a randomized controlled multicenter study using a three-dose regimen as a control. All the operations were performed in conventionally ventilated operating theaters. Of the 2,796 hip replacements entered in the study, 145 replacements were excluded because of protocol violations. The remaining 2,651 hip replacements were analyzed: 1,327 and 1,324 in the one- and the three-dose group, respectively. There were no differences between the one-dose and the three-dose groups as regards the incidence of postoperative wound-healing problems, and urinary tract or other distant infections. The use of additional antibiotics after the perioperative prophylaxis did not differ between the treatment groups. After a mean follow-up period of 13 months, joint sepsis was diagnosed in 11 of the patients in the one-dose group (0.83 percent) and in 6 of the patients in the control group (0.45 percent). This difference was not significant. Because the estimated difference between the one-dose and the three-dose group was 0.38 percent, we could not confirm that the efficacy of one dose was equal to three doses. An extended follow-up study, with more cases of joint sepsis, may provide more conclusive data. Until then, a three-dose regimen is recommended.