SINGLE-DOSE CEFODIZIME AS INFECTION PROPHYLAXIS IN ABDOMINAL-SURGERY - A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER STUDY

This prospective pilot study was performed to evaluate the efficacy, s afety and tolerability of a single dose of cefodizime as infection pro phylaxis in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. One hundred f orty-nine patients received 2 g cefodizime, a third-generation cephalo sporin, 30 min before abdominal surgery The mean operation time was 11 6 +/- 66 min. Eighteen patients received metronidazole additionally. I n 8/149 patients (5.4%) the final outcome was considered to be a treat ment failure. 94.6% of the patients had no signs of infection. The lon g half-life of cefodizime allows a single-dose perioperative prophylax is even in abdominal surgery lasting 3 to 4 h, Cefodizime can be regar ded as a safe antibiotic prophylaxis with few side effects.