Prophylactic Parenteral Cephalosporins in Surgery

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Abstract
Parenteral prophylactic cephalosporins used in surgery were compared in 17 published studies. Examination of these studies reveals little justification for preference of one cephalosporin over another. For gastrointestinal, obstetrical-gynecologic, or cardiac operations, newer cephalosporins did not result in substantial decreases in adverse postoperative clinical events (eg, wound infections, intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, and endocarditis) when compared with older cephalosporins. There is no evidence that second- or third-generation cephalosporins result in postoperative infection rates lower than with first-generation cephalosporins. (JAMA1984;252:3277-3279)