A trial of mezlocillin versus cefuroxime with or without metronidazole for the prevention of wound sepsis after biliary and gastrointestinal surgery.

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare the role of mezlocillin, as the sole prophylactic agent, with a combination of cefuroxime and metronidazole in patients undergoing biliary and gastrointestinal surgery. No difference in wound infection rates was seen in patients following appendicectomy, biliary or gastro-oesophageal surgery. A significantly higher wound infection rate was seen in patients undergoing colorectal surgery who received mezlocillin alone (30.2%) compared with those receiving cefuroxime and metronidazole (11.5%): this rate was similar to that of historical placebo controls in other units. The wound infections seen in patients receiving mezlocillin alone were polymicrobial involving organisms of faecal origin, including non-sporing anaerobes which were predominantly sensitive to mezlocillin. Infections due to Staphylococcus aureus, resistant to mezlocillin, were more frequent in patients receiving mezlocillin and usually secondary in nature. We conclude that mezlocillin may be an effective sole prophylactic agent in appendicectomy but not in colorectal surgery; the possible reasons for failure to adequately prevent infection, following colorectal surgery, are discussed.