[Use of aztreonam for the purpose of preventing postoperative purulent complications]

The efficacy of the prophylactic use of azthreonam, a monocyclic beta lactam antibiotic, was studied in 20 patients operated for liver diseases. The drug was administered intramuscularly in a dose of 1 g 30 minutes prior to the operation. During the postoperative period the drug was administered in a dose of 1 g 4-5 times a day for 4 to 5 days. The clinical effect in all the patients was good: no elevation of the body temperature above 37.5 degrees C and no suppuration of the operation wound. Adverse reaction to the treatment were not observed. 135 clinical isolates were tested for the susceptibility to azthreonam. The most susceptible gram-negative bacteria were the following: E coli (100 per cent), P. mirabilis (100 per cent), M. morganii (100 per cent), P. rettgeri (100 per cent) and Citrobacter sp. (84 per cent). P. aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, P. vulgaris and Enterobacter were less susceptible (64, 50, 50 and 47.5 per cent respectively). All the S. aureus isolates were resistant.