Research Article
Metronidazole in prevention and treatment of bacteroides infections after appendicectomy.
Br Med J 1976; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.6005.318 (Published 07 February 1976) Cite this as: Br Med J 1976;1:318
- A T Willis,
- I R Ferguson,
- P H Jones,
- K D Phillips,
- P V Tearle,
- R B Berry,
- R V Fiddian,
- D F Graham,
- D H Harland,
- D B Innes,
- W M Mee,
- R L Rothwell-Jackson,
- I Sutch,
- C Kilbey,
- D Edwards
Abstract
The frequency of non-clostridial anaerobic infection was studied in 95 patients who had undergone acute appendicectomy: 49 received prophylactic metronidazole and 46 received placebo. Anaerobic infection did not develop in any of the metronidazole-treated patients, but infections did develop in nine (19%) of the 46 controls. Metronidazole is conveniently administered by suppository to patients who cannot take oral drugs. Five patients with intra-abdominal infections caused by non-clostridial anaerobes were successfully treated with metronidazole.