[Clinical study of cefmenoxime in the field of abdominal surgery].

The effect of cefmenoxime (CMX) was evaluated in the abdominal surgery at 18 hospitals on the prevention and the treatment of postoperative infections. The results were summarized as follows. In 179 patients with prophylactic use of 2-4 g of CMX a day, no postoperative infection was observed in 94.4%. Using fever index to judge the effect of CMX in prevention of postoperative infections, the value of fever index was higher in the infected group than in the non-infected group. A significant difference was also observed in mean fever index value between the groups given CMX in 2 g and 4 g daily, being 15.4 degree hours and 1.7 degree hours. The incidence of postoperative infections was higher in cases with intraoperative bleeding of more than 500 ml than in cases with less bleeding. Postoperative infection and peritonitis subsided after the administration of 2-4 g of CMX/day for more than 8 days in 77.1% of cases. Very few side effects were noted due to CMX. These results suggest that CMX is safe and effective in the field of abdominal surgery for the prevention of postoperative infections and in the treatment of postoperative infections.