Single or multiple doses of metronidazole and ampicillin in elective colorectal surgery

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Abstract
A randomized trial including 294 patients was performed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of singlevs. multiple doses of antibiotics in elective colorectal surgery. All patients received 1.5 g metronidazole and 3.0 g ampicillin peroperatively and were randomized to: 1) no further prophylactic antibiotic treatment, or 2) ampicillin 1 g×3 and metronidazole 0.5 g×3 given intravenously during the second and third postoperative days. Deep wound infection was seen in 9/149 (6 percent) receiving a single dose and in 8/145 (6 percent) receiving multiple doses. no differences were found in the two groups between frequencies of anastomotic dehiscences, intra-abdominal abscesses, sepsis, and pulmonary infections. the two groups were similar according to distribution of sex, age, diagnosis, and type of surgery. A single peroperative dose of metronidazole and ampicillin is a simple and satisfactory antibiotic prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery.