Therapy for Experimental Intraabdominal Sepsis: Comparison of Four Cephalosporins with Clindamycin Plus Gentamicin

Abstract

An experimental model of intraabdominal sepsis in rats was used for evaluation of treatment with four cephalosporins: cephalothin, cefazolin, cefoxitin, and cefamandole. Doses were 115 mg of each of the cephalosporinsjkg and, in additional experiments, 350 mg of cephalothin or cefazolinjkg. Response to treatment was evaluated by mortality rate and the incidence of intraabdominal abscess. All four cephalosporins and gentamicin produced a similar reduction in mortality rates. There was a marked variation in incidence of abscess dependent upon the cephalosporin selected and the dosage tested. Regimens most effective in reducing abscesses were clindamycin, low-dose cefoxitin, or high-dose cephalothin.