Short time prophylaxis with ornidazole in elective colo-rectal surgery.

A study of 100 patients given short time prophylaxis against anaerobic infections in association with colo-rectal surgery is presented. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups receiving either ornidazole (Tiberal) or doxycycline (Vibramycin) for 3 days. Ornidazole concentrations in serum, subcutaneous fat, and intestinal wall were measured in 10 patients. No infection of anaerobic etiology was noticed in the ornidazole group, in contrast to 5 anaerobic infections in the doxycycline group. This difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The pharmacokinetic results indicate that a 3-day treatment with ornidazole gives a sufficient plasma steady state concentration, while the preoperative loading dose should be given less than 24 h prior to operation. The necessity of prophylaxis against both aerobic and anaerobic infections in colo-rectal surgery is emphasized.