Adjunctive antibiotic lavage in experimental peritonitis.

Lethal fecal peritonitis was created in 253 rats. The rats were then randomized to receive injections of saline solution or clindamycin and gentamicin. All rats received a saline solution lavage and were then further divided to receive a lavage with saline solution, gentamicin, clindamycin or cefoxitin. At the end of nine days, all surviving rats were sacrificed and examined for abscesses. All groups receiving clindamycin and gentamicin parenterally as well as those receiving a lavage with gentamicin or cefoxitin had a significantly better survival rate than did the control group. There was no difference in the number of abscesses in any group receiving antibiotics. Therefore, in this study, no benefit was achieved from an antibiotic lavage in rats receiving effective parenteral therapy.