Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Antibiotic prophylaxis for infantile pyloromyotomy
S Nour1, A E MacKinnon, J A Dickson
1Children's Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Insights
Antibiotic prophylaxis with Cefuroxime may reduce wound infections in infantile pyloromyotomy, though not significantly. This study assessed its value in preventing surgical site infections in infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a common surgical condition in infants.
- Wound infections are a known complication of infantile pyloromyotomy.
- Previous studies indicated a 12% wound infection rate in IHPS surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing surgical site infections after infantile pyloromyotomy.
- To determine the source of bacterial contamination in IHPS surgery.
Main Methods:
- A prospective randomized controlled study involving 150 infants undergoing pyloromyotomy.
- Infants were assigned to receive Cefuroxime prophylaxis or no antibiotic treatment.
- Bacterial cultures were obtained from the umbilicus and surgical wounds.
Main Results:
- Eight infants developed wound infections (5.3% overall).
- Three infections occurred in the antibiotic group versus five in the control group.
- Umbilical cultures did not identify the umbilicus as the source of infection.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic prophylaxis showed a trend towards reducing wound infections in infantile pyloromyotomy.
- The umbilicus is unlikely to be the primary source of surgical site infections in IHPS.
- Further research may be needed to confirm the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis.
Abstract:
A retrospective study of 50 patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) showed wound infection in six patients. In an attempt to assess the value of antibiotic prophylaxis in infantile pyloromyotomy 150 patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis were entered in a prospective randomized controlled study. The infants were allocated to receive a dose of Cefuroxime (30 mg/kg) at induction of anaesthesia or no antibiotic. Eight infants developed wound infection, five in the control group and three in the antibiotic prophylaxis group. Although the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant there was an overall reduction of wound infection (6.5%) compared with pre-trial figures (12%). In order to study the bacterial flora in the umbilicus in these infants, culture swabs were taken from the umbilicus on admission, immediately prior to surgery and from the wound prior to skin closure. It was shown that the umbilicus was not the source of infection.
Related Concept Videos
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy
Peptic Ulcer Disease IV: Management
The therapeutic approach involves ensuring adequate rest, implementing drug therapy, promoting smoking cessation, making dietary modifications, and emphasizing long-term follow-up care.
Pharmacological management
The prevailing therapy for peptic ulcers involves a combination of managing the patient's current medication...
Peptic Ulcer Disease V: Surgical Management and Nursing Care
Surgical Interventions for Peptic Ulcer Disease
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Pyloric Obstruction