[Early resuturing after abdominal wound infection under prophylactic metronidazole and ampicillin]

A randomized double-blind investigation was undertaken to assess the effect of treatment with metronidazole and ampicillin in patients with subcutaneous wound infection after laparotomy and early resuture. The wounds were closed in the fourth day and the antibiotic cover lasted from one to four days. None of the patients developed signs of sepsis or new abscesses. All of the wounds healed primarily but there were slight defects in two patients. These did not require surgical treatment. It is concluded that early closure of infected wounds after laparotomy may be undertaken under metronidazole and ampicillin cover and that treatment for one day is sufficient.