Different antimicrobial agents in treatment and prophylaxis of experimentally induced intraabdominal sepsis.

A reproducible experimental model of intraabdominal infection in rats has been worked out in order to simulate intraabdominal sepsis seen in humans and to test different antimicrobial agents in treatment and prophylaxis of intraabdominal infections. This experimental model was used to evaluate the efficacy of benzylpenicillin, benzylpenicillin plus sulbactam, cefoxitin, thienamycin, clindamycin, tinidazole, netilmicin, clindamycin plus netilmicin, and tinidazole plus netilmicin in the treatment of intraabdominal sepsis. Sixty-five per cent of the untreated animals died within two days. Within four days, 43% of the animals receiving clindamycin alone, 22% receiving tinidazole alone and 46% receiving netilmicin alone died. Animals treated with piperacillin, clindamycin plus netilmicin or tinidazole plus netilmicin showed a significantly decreased mortality and increased cure rates during the experimental period. Sixty-five per cent of the untreated animals and the animals given sulbactam alone died within 48 h. Over 90% of the animals given benzylpenicillin died within five days. Animals treated with benzylpenicillin plus sulbactam, cefoxitin or thienamycin had a significantly decreased mortality. Within four days 22% of the animals receiving tinidazole alone, 43% receiving clindamycin alone and 46% receiving netilmicin alone died. Animals treated with tinidazole plus netilmicin or clindamycin plus netilmicin had a significantly decreased mortality and increased cure rates during the experimental period. Only 5% of these animals died. In the prophylaxis experiment the following agents were tested: cefoxitin, doxycycline, tinidazole plus netilmicin, clindamycin plus netilmicin, and trimethoprim-sulfa plus tinidazole. One dosage of the antimicrobial(s) reduced the mortality rate significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)