[Mezlocillin in the antibiotic therapy of severe bacterial infections in visceral surgery].

Fifty-six patients suffering from severe and very severe bacterial infections received additional antibacterial treatment with mezlocillin following abdominal or chest surgery. There were 18 intestinal-peritoneal infections, 15 pleuropulmonary infections, seven patients with sepsis, six localized abscesses and ten patients receiving perioperative application. In 36 patients treatment had to be initiated before the pathogens had been identified. Twenty patients received mezlocillin alone and 37 in combination with an aminoglycoside. The clinical course and laboratory data were recorded while the patients were receiving antibiotic therapy. In 43 of the 56 patients, most of whom were suffering from mixed infections caused by anaerobes and aerobes or from fecal infections, a cure without complications could be achieved. In six patients a generalized infection was reduced to a local one which could be cured. Eight patients died, six of their surgical primary disease and two of septic complications. Apart from four instances of phlebitis at the site of the infusion, no side-effects resulted from our antibiotic therapy.