[Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in elective colon surgery. Results of a controlled study]

A prospective controlled, randomized trial was carried out among 70 patients undergoing elective colonic surgery; 31 patients received a systemic prophylaxis with cefotaxime (3 h) before surgery for 4 days and 29 patients were controls. The large bowel preparation consisted of whole gut irrigation with 0.9% NaCl and Paromomycin 1 g/l. Both groups were well matched after randomization. The rate wound infections in the control group was 28% and, in the test group, 6.4% (p less than 0.05, chi2-test). A trend toward a lower rate of urinary tract infections, an astomosic dehiscences and septicemic complications was recognizable in the test group, but not significant.