Mezlocillin and carbenicillin: a clinical comparison of serious systemic infections in surgical patients.

Eighty patients suffering from severe cases of systemic surgical infections were enrolled in a prospective, controlled randomized study to compare mezlocillin and carbenicillin. The daily dosage was chosen according to international recommendation, i.e. 4 g mezlocillin 6-hourly and 5 g carbenicillin 4-hourly. A clinical, bacteriological and combined "overall" evaluation was made. There was a distinct trend in favour of the mezlocillin group which was not statistically significant. The treatment was well tolerated; no side-effects were observed.