Annals of surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Evaluation of antibiotic therapy following penetrating abdominal trauma.
Postoperative infection accounts for significant morbidity and mortality following penetrating abdominal trauma. During a 2 1/2-year period, December 1980 through June 1983, 257 patients sustaining penetrating abdominal injury were initially treated at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Following the patient's written consent, they were prospectively randomized to receive, prior to surgery, intravenous clindamycin 600 mg every 6 hours and tobramycin 1.2 mg/kg every 6 hours (CT), or cefamandole 1 gm every 4 hours (M), or cefoxitin 1 gm every 4 hours (C). ⋯ The results of this study indicate that cefoxitin is comparable to the combination of clindamycin/tobramycin and superior to cefamandole when used before surgery in patients sustaining penetrating abdominal trauma. The study suggests that antibiotic coverage should be against aerobes and anaerobes. Routine administration of an aminoglycoside is unnecessary.