Plasma levels of ceftriaxone in cardiovascular surgery.

In 512 patients undergoing major cardiovascular surgery, this prospective, randomized study compared the effectiveness of perioperative prophylaxis with either ceftriaxone or cefuroxime. In the ceftriaxone group, 254 patients received a single 2 g dose given intravenously at the start of anesthesia followed by a 1 g dose 24 hours later. In the cefuroxime group, 258 patients received 1.5 g at the start of anesthesia, followed by 1.5 g given intravenously every 12 hours for 2 days postoperatively. Postoperative infectious complications developed in only 12 patients in each group (4.7 percent). In 53 patients the mean serum concentration of ceftriaxone 24 hours after administration of the 2 g dose was 37.4 micrograms/ml, a level far in excess of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of usual cardiovascular pathogens with the exception of Bacteroides species and Pseudomonas species. We conclude that a single 2 g dose of ceftriaxone given at the time of cardiovascular surgery should provide adequate prophylaxis.