Oral metronidazole as antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with nonperforated appendicitis

al metronidazole as antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with nonperforated appendicitis Original Research (2661) Total Article Views Authors: Ravari H, Jangjoo A, Motamedifar J, Moazzami K Published Date December 2011 Volume 2011:4 Pages 273 - 276 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S18153 Hassan Ravari1, Ali Jangjoo2, Jalal Motamedifar2, Kasra Moazzami3 1Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 2Department of General Surgery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, 3Department of General Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran Background: The rate of wound infection after appendectomy without antibiotic prophylaxis is 10%–30%. The role of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in nonperforated appendicitis is still controversial. Metronidazole is against anaerobic organisms and its bioavailability after oral and parenteral administration has been shown to be similar. The objective of the present study is to compare the infective complications rate after open appendectomy for nonperforated appendicitis receiving either oral or intravenous metronidazole as prophylaxis. Methods and Materials: From June 2007 to July 2009 in a randomized controlled trial, 204 patients with nonperforated appendicitis underwent an open appendectomy; 122 male and 82 female with mean age of 25 years. Among these, 102 (case group) received oral metronidazole and in 102 (control group) metronidazole was administered intravenously before surgery. The rate of wound infection and duration of the postoperative hospital stay was studied in the two groups. Results: The rate of wound infection was not significantly different in the two groups. (6% and 4% in study and control group, respectively, P = 0.861). Also the hospital stay was equal in two groups (2.3 days and 2.7 days in study and control group, respectively, P = 0.293). Conclusion: Single dose of oral metronidazole prior to operation can provide a sufficient prophylaxis for nonperforated appendicitis; so, it can be substitute the parental route of antibiotic administration.