A Trial Using Early Preoperative Administration of Cefonicid for Antimicrobial Prophylaxis with Hysterectomies

Abstract

A single dose of cefonicid given 3.5–5.0 hours or 0.5–1.0 hour preoperatively was compared with cefoxitin given as five doses beginning 0.5–1.0 hour preoperatively for prophylaxis of infection in 202 patients undergoing vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy. The administration of cefonicid 3.5–5.0 hours preoperatively was intended to simulate situations where surgery may be delayed or prolonged. The trial was double-blind, and patients were randomized to one of the three regimens. Operative site infections were noted in 6.2 percent of patients (7/113) who received cefonicid 3.5–5.0 hours preoperatively, in 7.0 percent of patients (3/43) who received cefonicid 0.5–1.0 hour preoperatively, and in 4.3 percent of patients (2/46) who received cefoxitin (p > 0.05). Enterococci were isolated most frequently from operative-site infections. When administered 3.5–5.0 hours preoperatively, cefonicid was as effective as more traditional regimens.