Antibiotic activity in surgical incisions. The basis of prophylaxis in selected operations
H. C. Polk Jr, L. Trachtenberg and M. P. Finn
Perioperative antibiotic administration to produce systemic effects reduces
the frequency of operative wound infection in selected procedures.
Controlled clinical trials now indicate that cephalothin sodium may not be
effective in this role, whereas cephaloridine and cefazolin sodium have
been beneficial. Review of estimates of incisional antibiotic
concentrations taken during prospective patient studies display patterns
compatible with these data. EAch drug reaches acceptable incisional
concentrations, which are relatively well maintained for cephaloridine and
cefazolin; cephalothin disappears from human incisions so rapidly as to
provide little wound protection in operations lasting more than one hour.
