Routine antibiotic therapy in the management of the local inflammatory swelling in venomous snakebites: results of a placebo-controlled study.
Ceylon Med J
;
2005 Dec; 50(4): 151-5
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-47824
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the value of routine antibiotic therapy in the management of the local swelling of patients with venomous snakebites.METHODS:
A prospective, placebo-controlled study at the General Hospital, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka where 144 patients with envenoming and local swelling in the leg were allocated to receive either antibiotics (Group A = test group) or placebo (Group B = controls). Benzyl penicillin 2 mega units intravenously 6 hourly and metronidazole 500 mg by intravenous infusion 8 hourly for 5 days from the first day of the bite were given to Group A. Ethical committee approval was obtained from the Committee of General Hospital, Anuradhapura. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Circumference difference between the affected limb and the normal limb, length of the swelling measured in centimetres, and the physical characteristics of the local swelling of both groups were compared.RESULTS:
Group A had 69 patients and the Group B 75. The mean circumference difference (MCD) of the leg between the groups showed no significant difference for 4 days (P > 0.05), except at the site of the bite on the third day when the Group B showed a significant improvement (p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in the length of the local swelling or the score of physical characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The proportions of recovery of the local swelling on the fourth and fifth day had no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION:
The routine use of antibiotics (penicillin and metronidazole) does not seem to be of value in reducing the local inflammatory swelling in venomous snakebite.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Penicillins
/
Snake Bites
/
Snake Venoms
/
Sri Lanka
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Child
/
Adolescent
Type of study:
Controlled clinical trial
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Ceylon Med J
Year:
2005
Type:
Article
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