[Prophylactic use of ampicillin and sulbactam in colonic surgery]

The purpose of the work was an evaluation of the effectiveness of ampicillin and sulbactam administered parenterally in the prophylaxis of infections in patients after colonic surgery. The group of patients treated with ampicillin and sulbactam was compared with the control group in which penicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole were given prophylactically. Surgical wound infections were found in the group receiving ampicillin and sulbactam in 20% of cases, and in the control group in 13.3% of patients. This difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In both groups infections of all perineal wounds were observed after abdominoperineal operations. No allergic reactions nor side effects were found in the group treated with ampicillin and sulbactam.

Prophylactic administration of ampicillin and sulbactam in colonic surgery is similar in its effectiveness to prophylactic administration of penicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole.