Imipenem prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery.

In a randomized controlled study of 411 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, the efficacy and safety of two different regimens of imipenem were compared with those of a control regimen of cefuroxime plus metronidazole. Surgical infections occurred in 92 (26.4 per cent) of 349 evaluable patients. There were no major differences between the three treatment groups. It is concluded that imipenem is as effective as cefuroxime plus metronidazole in the prevention of sepsis after elective colorectal procedures.