A DOUBLE-BLINDED, RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED CLINICAL-TRIAL TO COMPARE CEFAZOLIN AND CEFONICID FOR ANTIMICROBIAL PROPHYLAXIS IN CLEAN ORTHOPEDIC-SURGERY

A double-blind, prospective randomized study was performed to compare cefazolin and cefonicid given for prophylaxis to 102 patients undergoi ng orthopedic surgery. Risk factors (e.g., age, sex, type of operation performed) among the two groups were similar. All patients had foreig n material (prosthesis or other hardware) inserted at operation. There was a total of 6 infections (3 wound and 3 urinary tract) in 6 patien ts among the 48 receiving cefazolin (12.5%), whereas no infections wer e observed among the 54 patients who received cefonicid. Cefonicid, gi ven once daily, provides protection against postoperative infection th at is not inferior to cefazolin, A larger study is needed to confirm w hether cefonicid is indeed superior to cefazolin.