Aminoglycoside peritoneal lavage: lack of efficacy in experimental fecal peritonitis.

The utility of an adjunctive aminoglycoside lavage in the prevention of intra-abdominal abscesses utilizing an experimental rodent model was studied. Peritonitis was created in 115 rats by the intra-abdominal placement of gelatin capsules containing a barium-sulfate, human stool mixture. Four hours later, the animals were re-explored and lavaged with 30 ml/kg of sterile saline. Following the lavage, they were randomized to receive 15 ml/kg of either a 0.2% gentamicin or a normal saline lavage. The animals were then treated with intramuscular gentamicin-clindamycin or saline placebo for nine days. There was no difference in the number of abscesses between the groups receiving systemic antibiotics. The addition of gentamicin to a peritoneal lavage did not decrease the incidence of intra-abdominal infection in animals receiving effective systemic antibiotics.