The role of prophylactic antibiotics in appendectomy using delayed primary closure.

A prospective randomized trial of prophylactic antibiotics in 202 patients undergoing appendectomy is reported upon. The antibiotics used were metronidazole and cephradine. Half of the patients received antibiotics preoperatively. The other half received antibiotics at operation only upon finding perforation, gangrene or pus formation. All wounds were treated by delayed primary closure. No instance of wound infection, defined as abscess formation or cellulitis, occurred in either group. Antibiotics given prophylactically in every instance appear to have no advantage in preventing wound infection when delayed primary closure is used.