Moxalactam as single-agent prophylaxis in the prevention of wound infection following colon surgery.

A single agent systemic antibiotic (moxalactam) when used prophylactically in patients undergoing colon surgery was associated with a wound infection rate comparable to that achieved by a combination of oral neomycin and intravenous metronidazole. The data obtained demonstrated that the reduced infection rate was not the result of a reduction in the bacterial content of the colon alone but due to the prophylactic agents used for elective colon surgery.