Comparison of two systemic antibiotics for the prevention of complications in elective colorectal surgery

In a prospective randomized trial on 77 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, cefoxitin and cephalothin were given as systemic antibiotic prophylaxis. Postoperative sepsis occurred in 2/40 (5%) of those given cefoxitin compared to 9/37 (24.3%) of those given cephalothin. The reduction in the infection rate in the group treated by cefoxitin was statistically significant (p less than 0.02). Specific drug toxicity was not evidenced except for transient skin rashes in two patients of both groups.