Simple peroperative antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis in elective neurosurgical operations |
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Authors: | H R Ingham R M Kalbag P R Sisson D A Allcutt M J Betty P J Crawford N R Gillham J Hankinson R P Sengupta A J Strong |
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Institution: | Department of Microbiology, Newcastle General Hospital. |
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Abstract: | From August 1981 to February 1982 postoperative infections due to different strains of penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred in 20 of 467 patients (4.3%) undergoing elective cranial and spinal operations. These infections were not attributable to defects in procedures or the theatre environment, therefore chemoprophylaxis was instituted. In the following 8 months, when patients were given penicillin G and sulphadiazine for 5 days commencing immediately postoperatively, S. aureus infections occurred in five of 579 patients (0.9%). In a subsequent randomized uncontrolled study, infections occurred in six of 265 patients receiving penicillin (2.3%), three of 270 receiving penicillin and sulphadiazine (1.1%) and one of 45 receiving erythromycin (2.2%) immediately postoperatively for 5 days. In a further study in which 587 patients received penicillin for 5 days commencing immediately preoperatively, infections due to S. aureus occurred in six (1.1%). Infections due to gram-negative organisms were seen in five (0.4%) of 1167 patients in the two uncontrolled studies. |
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