Randomized controlled trial of cefuroxime for established postoperative respiratory infection.

A randomized controlled trial has investigated the value of cefuroxime (a new antibiotic resistant to beta-lactamase) in 80 patients with established postoperative respiratory infection. Although the majority of respiratory isolates were sensitive to cefuroxime, there was no significant advantage in the antibiotic group compared with the controls with respect to duration of fever, radiological abnormality or infected sputum. We conclude that antibiotics are rarely necessary for the majority of patients who develop postoperative respiratory infections.