Moxalactam vs tobramycin-clindamycin. A randomized trial in secondary peritonitis.

One hundred five patients with peritonitis were randomized to receive either tobramycin sulfate plus clindamycin phosphate or moxalactam alone before surgical intervention. Fifty-nine patients were evaluable. A mean of 3.1 (moxalactam) and 3.5 (tobramycin-clindamycin) pathogens per patient were identified. Overall success rate was 85% (tobramycin-clindamycin, 24/30; moxalactam, 26/29). When patients with appendicitis were excluded, there was an observed but not statistically significant advantage of moxalactam over tobramycin-clindamycin (85% vs 67%). There were five deaths (tobramycin-clindamycin, four; moxalactam, one). Other complications included hypoprothrombinemia (tobramycin-clindamycin, five; moxalactam, five), renal dysfunction (tobramycin-clindamycin, three; moxalactam, one), and superinfection (tobramycin-clindamycin, nine; moxalactam, six). More wound infections were noted in the group given tobramycin-clindamycin. These data suggest that moxalactam is as safe and efficacious as tobramycin plus clindamycin. The observed benefits of this agent warrant study in a larger sample to verify advantages of moxalactam over combination therapy.