Cefmetazole treatment of intra-abdominal infection.

Seventy-nine patients were enrolled in a study comparing cefmetazole and cefoxitin as single agent antibiotic therapy for intra-abdominal infection. Thirty-seven patients had appendicitis, 16 patients had perforated peptic ulcer while 26 patients had a variety of other infectious processes. The clinical response to both antibiotics was good and tolerance was equivalent. Four patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the initial culture experienced microbiological failure. Three patients treated with cefmetazole had prolongation of the prothrombin time.