Flucloxacillin compared with cefazolin in short-term prophylaxis for clean orthopedic surgery.

Author(s): Van Meirhaeghe J, Verdonk R, Verschraegen G, Myny P, Paeme G, Claessens H

Affiliation(s): Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.

Publication date & source: 1989, Arch Orthop Trauma Surg., 108(5):308-13.

Publication type: Case Reports; Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Two-hundred and fifty-two patients were included in a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial comparing the efficacy of flucloxacillin with that of cefazolin for clean orthopedic surgery. The preventive antibiotic regimen consisted of three 1-g injections perioperatively. There were 126 patients in each group, and the follow-up period was at least 6 months. Two deep (1.6%) and five superficial (4.0%) infections occurred in the flucloxacillin group. Three deep (2.4%) and five superficial (4.0%) infections developed in the cefazolin group.