[Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis for gastric cancer in surgery. Comparative study of 2 and 4 times daily administrations of cefotiam].

Comparative study of prophylaxis with cefotiam (CTM) was carried out in 47 patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer. The patients were randomized in 2 treatment groups. The first group A received a single intravenous drip dose of 0.5 g CTM, given 4 times daily for 5 days after surgery. The second group B received a single intravenous drip dose of 1 g CTM, given twice daily for 5 days. Postoperative infections occurred in 8.7% (2/23) of the patients receiving CTM in group A, and in group B 8.3% (2/24). The number of infections was similar in both groups of patients. Prophylactic efficacy of CTM has also been evaluated in fever index of A and B groups. Fever index was 16.36 +/- 4.00 degree hours in A group, and in B group 7.91 +/- 2.30 degree hours, respectively. The difference between the 2 groups are statistically significant tendency. A single dose of 1 g CTM, given twice daily for 5 days, provide effective prophylaxis against infections in patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer. CTM can be recommended for surgical prophylaxis.