Comparison of Ceftizoxime Plus Ampicillin-Sulbactam versus Gentamicin Plus Ampicillin-Sulbactam in the Prevention of Post-Transplant Early Bacterial Infections in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mojtaba Shafiekhani,1,2 Iman Karimzadeh,1 Saman Nikeghbalian,2 Mohammad Firoozifar,2 Gholamreza Pouladfar,3 Afsaneh Vazin1 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 2Shiraz Organ Transplant Center, Abu-Ali Sina Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 3Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranCorrespondence: Afsaneh VazinSchool of Pharmacy, Shiraz - Marvdasht Hwy, Rokn Abad Town, Shiraz, Fars Province 71468 64685, IranTel +98 71 32 42 41 27Fax +98 71 32 42 41 26Email vazeena@sums.ac.ir Gholamreza PouladfarNemazee Hospital, Karimkhan Zand St, Shiraz, Fars Province 7193711351, IranTel +98 71 36474296Fax +98 71 36474303Email pooladfar@sums.ac.irPurpose: In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of combined ceftizoxime with ampicillin-sulbactam versus combined gentamicin with ampicillin-sulbactam as prophylactic antibiotic regimen in preventing early bacterial PTIs in liver TX recipients at a referral center.Patients and methods: All patients older than 18 years who had undergone liver TX at Abu-Ali Sina transplantation center in Shiraz, Iran from July 2018 to April 2019 were included in this study. In a single-blinded manner, the participants randomly received either combined intravenous ceftizoxime plus ampicillin-sulbactam (ceftizoxime group) or gentamicin plus ampicillin-sulbactam (gentamicin group) as prophylactic antibiotic regimen before the incision of the surgery, which was continued for 48 hrs after liver Tx. The rate and type of bacterial infections, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, mortality rate, and kidney function were assessed during 1 month following liver TX in the two groups.Results: Two hundred and thirty patients were divided into two groups. One patient in the gentamicin group and five in the ceftizoxime group were excluded due to emergency exploratory laparotomy within the first 3 days after transplantation. The rate of bacterial infections during the first month after transplantation was 25.4%. This rate was significantly lower in the gentamicin group (13.16%) in comparison to the ceftizoxime group (38.18%) (P value