Which cephalosporin for wound prophylaxis? An experimental comparison of three drugs.

An experimental wound model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of cefazolin, cefamandole, and cefotaxime in the prevention of wound infection. Incisions were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or a standardized fecal suspension. Regardless of the contaminant employed, the prophylactic use of either cefazolin, cefamandole, or cefotaxime yielded lower concentrations of bacteria in the wounds and fewer infections compared with treatment with saline solution. Within the context of this experimental model, cefazolin proved equally as effective as the newer and more expensive cephalosporins, cefamandole and cefotaxime.