Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in general thoracic surgery

• Published in: The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon Vol. 40; no. 6; p. 326
• Main Authors: Wertzel, H, Swoboda, L, Joos-Würtemberger, A, Frank, U, Hasse, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-12-1992
• Subjects: Ampicillin - administration & dosage; Ampicillin - analysis; Ampicillin - therapeutic use; Bronchitis - epidemiology; Bronchitis - prevention & control; Candidiasis, Oral - epidemiology; Candidiasis, Oral - prevention & control; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Intraoperative Period; Lung - chemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonectomy; Pneumonia - epidemiology; Pneumonia - prevention & control; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Postoperative Period; Prospective Studies; Sulbactam - administration & dosage; Sulbactam - analysis; Sulbactam - therapeutic use; Surgical Wound Infection - epidemiology; Surgical Wound Infection - prevention & control; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Tract Infections - epidemiology; Urinary Tract Infections - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0171-6425
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1020174

A prospective study of the efficacy of ampicillin in combination with sulbactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, (A/S) in perioperative prophylaxis was performed. The study consisted of two independent parts performed at the same time. Part I included 60 patients with lobectomies and segmentectomies. Group A (A/S 1 x 3 g "single shot") was compared with group B (A/S 3 x 3 g). Superficial wound infections occurred in 3 patients of group A and in 2 patients of group B. There was no empyema. Bronchitis and pneumonia were found in 10 patients of group A and in 7 patients of group B. Part II examined 25 pneumonectomies receiving A/S 3 x 3 g for 3 days. Concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam in serum and lung tissue were determined and showed adequate levels to cope with usual bacteria in lung surgery. There was one superficial wound infection, 2 cases of bronchitis, and 2 cases of pneumonia.