Antibiotic prophylaxis in non-perforated appendicitis of childhood: tetracycline lavage compared with peroperative intravenous cefuroxime and metronidazole

Eighty-four cases of non-perforated appendicitis in children were randomly allocated to receive either oxytetracycline lavage alone or oxytetracycline lavage plus peroperative intravenous metronidazole and cefuroxime. The wound infection rate with the oxytetracycline lavage alone was 4·4% compared with 7·7% when metronidazole and cefuroxime were added. These rates were not significantly different. This study supports the use of oxytetracycline lavage alone as effective prophylaxis against wound infection in non-perforated appendicitis of childhood. © 1987.