CIPROFLOXACIN VS CEFOTAXIME REGIMENS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INTRAABDOMINAL INFECTIONS

The efficacy of ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole was compared with that of cefotaxime plus gentamicin plus metronidazole in 79 patients with proven intra-abdominal infections. Patients were classified with the Peritonitis Index Altona-II (PIA-II) score for severity of disease, underlying conditions, prognosis and type of infection. Local peritonitis was diagnosed in 21 patients, generalized peritonitis in 25, intra-abdominal abscesses in 33; 35 patients had polymicrobial infections. Cure and improvement rates were: ciprofloxacin 77%, cefotaxime combination 56% (p < 0.02). Failures were significantly associated with a low initial PIA-II score, the presence of generalized peritonitis or abscesses, persistence of pathogens and superinfection, Superinfection was observed in 49% of the cases under cefotaxime and in 30% under ciprofloxacin. Concentrations of ciprofloxacin in pus ranged 2.0-5.2 mg/l with simultaneous serum concentrations of 1.2-3.1 mg/l.