Oral ciprofloxacin versus intravenous cefuroxime as prophylaxis against postoperative infection in vascular surgery: A randomised double-blind, prospective multicentre study

Objectives:To test the hypothesis that oral ciprofloxacin is equally effective as intravenous cefuroxime in preventing postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing peripheral arterial surgery involving the groins.Design:Prospective, randomised, double-blind multicentre study.Materials:580 patients undergoing arterial surgery involving the groins were randomised to ciprofloxacin (Ciproxin, Bayer) 750 mg × 2 p.o. or cefuroxime (Zinacef, Glaxo) 1.5 g × 3 i.v. given only on the day of surgery. The primary endpoint was wound/graft infection within 30 days postoperatively. Wound infection was defined as pus.Results:The wound infection rate in the ciprofloxacin group was 9.2% (27 patients) and in the cefuroxime group 9.1% (26 patients) according to intention to treat. For correct treatment the corresponding numbers were 9.5% (23 patients) and 9.7% (22 patients), respectively. There were three graft infections (0.5%). The infection rate was 7.1% (31/433) in the absence and 14.9% (22/147) in the presence of distal ulcers (p