A comparison of the roles of cefamandole and ceftriaxone in abdominal surgery.

Abstract

In a prospective, randomized study, we compared the ability of ceftriaxone sodium (serum half-life, 8.0 hours) and cefamandole naftate and sodium carbonate (serum half-life, 0.8 hours) to prevent wound infection in 1238 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Prophylaxis consisted of single-dose therapy at the time of induction of anesthesia, and treatment regimens contained ceftriaxone sodium, 1 g/d intravenously, or cefamandole naftate and sodium carbonate, 1 g intravenously every 6 hours. Except for low-risk biliary procedures, cephalosporin therapy was accompanied by the administration of metronidazole. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of wound infection, ie, 5.6% for the ceftriaxone group (95% confidence interval, 3.8% to 7.4%) and 6.9% for the cefamandole group (95% confidence interval, 4.9% to 8.9%). Single-dose prophylaxis with 1 g of cefamandole naftate and sodium carbonate was relatively inexpensive and provided a cost savings of 64%. When treatment was required, a 23% cost savings was associated with the use of a once-daily dose of 1 g of ceftriaxone sodium.

• Authors: J C Hall, J L Hall, K Christiansen
• Journal: Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (Arch Surg) Vol. 126 Issue 4 Pg. 512-6 (Apr 1991) ISSN: 0004-0010 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1901204 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Cefamandole
• Ceftriaxone

Topics

• Abdomen (surgery)
• Adolescent
• Aged
• Cefamandole (therapeutic use)
• Ceftriaxone (therapeutic use)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Compliance
• Premedication
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Surgical Wound Infection (microbiology, prevention & control)