ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate antimicrobial properties of Dermacyn in abdominal infections, and to develop a new method for peritoneal lavage without using antibiotics. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients suffering from intestinal perforation (abdominal closed injury), who had been treated with opened surgical repair or partial intestinal resection, were enrolled in this study. In the study group, Dermacyn was used for peritoneal lavage. During the same period, 102 patients with intestinal perforation of abdominal closed injury and opened repair or partial intestinal resection were enrolled as a control group. For the control group, metronidazole physiological saline was used for peritoneal lavage. Patients from both groups had a postoperative indwelling peritoneal drainage tube. Five objective indicators were studied and compared at 24, 48, and 72 hours: volume of drainage, drainage fluid culture, blood routine test, C-reactive protein, calcitonin and antibiotics dose. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the drainage volumes in two groups three days after the operation. There were significant differences in the nature of the drainage fluid, bacterial culture results, blood routine, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin between the two groups. In the experimental group, after the Dermacyn flushing, the average volume of peritoneal drainage fluid was reduced (from 30 to 5 mL) from 24 to 72 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Dermacyn as an antibiotic agent for intraoperative peritoneal lavage was effective in reducing the risk of infection, due to its broad-spectrum bactericidal effect. Dermacyn could be used safely to perform peritoneal flushing to clean the operation site.
