Efficacy and Safety of Parenteral Amoxycillin/ Clavulanate for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection Following Abdominal Surgery
Darin Lohsiriwat MD*, Vitoon Chinswangwatanakul MD, PhD*, Varut Lohsiriwat MD, MSc*, Amorn Leelaratsamee MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of parenteral amoxycillin/
clavulanate for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) following intra-abdominal surgery.
Material and Method: This prospective opened non-comparative clinical trial was conducted in the Department
of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand between 1 April 2004 and 30 September
2004. Prophylactic amoxycillin/clavulanate (Cavumox®) at a dose of 1.2 gram was given intravenously to all
patients who underwent emergency or elective intra-abdominal procedures. All patients were scheduled to
follow-up visits at 7, 14 and 30 days post operatively for monitoring the occurrence of SSI.
Results : Thirty emergency appendectomies (85.7%) and other 5 elective surgical procedures (14.3%) were
performed in 35 patients including 14 males and 21 females with a mean age of 37 (range, 18-72) years. No SSI
or drug allergy was observed.
Conclusion : Parenteral amoxycillin/clavulanate is a safe and effective antibiotic as the monotherapy for
prevention of SSI following intra-abdominal surgery.
Keywords : Prophylactic antibiotics, Monotherapy, Surgical site infection, Abdominal surgery
