Perioperative systemic antibiotics for prophylaxis of infections in breast surgery: sulbactam/ampicillin versus mezlocillin/oxacillin.

In a prospective, randomized, open trial, efficacy of one dose of sulbactam/ampicillin (1 g:2 g) was compared to three doses of mezlocillin/oxacillin (2 g:1 g), starting with induction of anesthesia in 80 breast surgery patients with an increased risk of postoperative infection. No infections at the site of operation were seen in either group. Fever due to postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in one patient in the sulbactam/ampicillin group. The only side effect was a moderate exanthema observed in one patient in the mezlocillin/oxacillin group. In this study of the prophylaxis of patients with an increased risk of postoperative infections having the potential to jeopardize the results of surgery, a single dose of sulbactam/ampicillin was as effective as a short term course of three doses of mezlocillin/oxacillin.