Third-generation cephalosporins for polymicrobial surgical sepsis
H. H. Stone, P. R. Strom, T. C. Fabian and W. E. Dunlop
During 31 months of study, 808 patients with polymicrobial surgical
infection were randomized for antibiotic therapy between a third-generation
cephalosporin (moxalactam disodium [149], cefotaxime sodium [125], and
cefoperazone sodium [141]) and the combination of gentamicin sulfate plus
clindamycin (393). Results based on antibiotic therapy included the
following: cure in 83% given cephalosporin, 73% with antibiotic
combination; control but recurrent sepsis in 7% and 15%; and failure in 4%
and 8%, respectively. Such data support the tenet that third-generation
cephalosporins are at least equal, if not superior, to the combination of
gentamicin plus clindamycin for treatment of polymicrobial surgical sepsis.
