Clinical and economic consequences of wound sepsis after appendicectomy and their modification by metronidazole or povidone iodine.

ABSTRACT

The effects of intrarectal metronidazole and intraincisional povidone iodine on sepsis after emergency appendicectomy were compared in a double-blind randomised controlled trial in 496 patients. Wound sepsis occurred in 12.3% of metronidazole-treated patients compared with 24% in the povidone-iodine group and 23.5% in an untreated control group. The metronidazole-treated patients left hospital approximately 2 days earlier than patients in the other two groups. They returned to work sooner and receiver fewer visits from the district nursing service. A short six-dose course of metronidazole significantly reduces the wound-infection rate in patients over the age of 12 undergoing emergency appendicectomy. If the clinical and economic benefits of metronidazole shown by this study are confirmed, the drug should be considered for routine use in emergency appendicectomy.