The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 69, Issue 8 1189-1193, Copyright © 1987 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Perioperative cefamandole prophylaxis against infections
JM Gatell, S Garcia, L Lozano, E Soriano, R Ramon and JG SanMiguel
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain.
Seven hundred and seventeen patients were included in a prospective
randomized double-blind trial comparing the efficacy of five doses of
cefamandole (group I, 335 patients) with that of a single preoperative dose
(group II, 382 patients) for prophylaxis against sepsis in patients who had
an operation using either a Moore prosthesis, Ender or Kuntscher nails, a
bone plate, or another internal-fixation device. Patients who had an open
fracture or total joint replacement were not included in the study. The two
groups were similar in terms of mean age, sex ratio, duration of
preoperative hospital stay, underlying risk factors, and type of surgical
procedure. A wound infection developed in none of the seventy-four patients
in group I and in five (6.6 per cent) of the seventy-six in group II (p =
0.03) who required a Moore prosthesis. A wound infection developed in three
patients (1 per cent) in group I and in fifteen (5 per cent) in group II (p
= 0.006) who required an internal fixation device other than a Moore
prosthesis. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and
gram-negative bacilli were the most common infecting organisms. The rate of
mortality was similar in both groups, while the percentage of postoperative
urinary-tract infections was lower in group I (p = 0.04). No adverse side
effects of the drug were encountered.