Antimicrobial prophylaxis in head and neck surgery.

In this random study, 60 patients were given either cefotaxime, or ceftriaxone as a prophylactic measure in cervicofacial surgery. Each antibiotic was administered during a 48-hour period starting 1 h before the operation. Twenty-three patients underwent major cervicofacial surgery including opening of the pharynx or the buccal cavity by the cervical route. Only a single postoperative infection was observed as a result of a salivary fistula on the 2nd postoperative day. The two antibiotics have turned out to be very efficient as short-term prophylactic treatment in cervicofacial surgery. In other respects, the much longer half-life of ceftriaxone means that a single daily dose can be given. Finally, the cost of the prophylactic treatment is smaller using ceftriaxone than cefotaxime.