Penicillin G versus cefuroxime for prophylaxis in lower limb amputation.

Out of 457 patients amputated below or above the knee, we randomized 288 to receive penicillin G and 229 cefuroxime as prophylaxis against infection. We also stratified the patients into two groups: Group A (313 patients) who did not receive antibiotic treatment within 48 hours prior to the operation and Group B (88 patients) who did. There were 56 dropouts according to protocol regulations. The patients were evaluated for efficacy on the 21st postoperative day. In Group A, 20 of 158 (13 per cent) penicillin G-treated and 27 of 155 (17 per cent) cefuroxime-treated had wound sepsis; 5 (3 per cent) penicillin G-treated and 4 (3 per cent) cefuroxime-treated patients had been reamputated by Day 21 (P greater than 0.05). We concluded that prophylactic penicillin G prevents infection as effectively as cefuroxime after lower limb amputation.