Abstract
Sepsis originates when organisms are able to grow and produce toxins with subsequent tissue destruction. Reaction to the presence of microbial products by humoral and cellular defences may lead to further damage. Microbes, in general, are destroyed by the combined action of polymorphs and antibodies. Steroids and cytotoxic agents may affect the function of polymorphs in killing bacteria, and in immunodeficient patients humoral defences may be reduced. Elderly patients and those with malignancy, diabetes and intercurrent infection seem less able to resist the hazards of infection associated with surgery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allen JL, Rampone JF, Wheeless CR (1972) Use of a prophylactic antibiotic in elective major gynaecologic operations. Obstet and Gynecol 39: 218–224
Burke JF (1961) The effective period of preventative antibiotic action in experimental incisions and dermal lesions. Surgery 50: 161–165
Cruse PJ, Foord R (1973) A five year prospective study of 23,649 surgical wounds. Archives of Surgery 107: 206–210
George JW, Ansbacher R, Otterson WN, Rabey F (1975) Prospective bacteriologic study of women undergoing hysterectomy. Obstet Gynecol 45: 60–63
Giles JA, Ashe RG, Heap JND, Hey Fiona M, Maloney MD, Newman Mercy J, Pomeroy Louise, Scane TM, Smith JH, Wathen CG, Hawkins DF (1984) A prospective controlled trial of cephradine and metronidazole as prophylaxis with abdominal hysterectomy. J Obstet Gynaecol 5 (Suppl 1): 513–517
Grossman JH, Greco TP, Minkin MJ, Adams RL, Hierholzer WJ, Andriole VT (1979) Prophylactic antibiotics in gynaecological surgery. Obstet Gynecol 53: 53–544
Hawrylyshyn PA, Bernstein P, Papsin FR (1983) Short term antibiotic prophylaxis in high risk patients following Caesarian section. Am J Obstet Gynecol 145: 285–289
Kelly MJ (1980) Wound infection: a controlled clinical and experimental demonstration of synergy between aerobic (Escherichia coli) and anaerobic (Bacteroides fragilis) bacteria. Ann R Coll Surg 62: 52–58
Lidwell OM, Lowbury EJL, Whyte W, Blowers R, Stanley SJ, Lowe D (1982) Effect of ultraclean air in operating rooms on deep sepsis in the joint after total or knee replacement: a randomised study. Br Med J 285: 10–14
Seropian R, Reynolds BM (1971) Wound infections after preoperative depilatory versus razor preparation. Am J Surg 121: 251–254
Study Group (1974) Metronidazole in the prevention and treatment of Bacteroides infections in gynaecological patients. Lancet 2: 1540–1543
Vorherr H, Vorherr UF, Mehta P, Ulrich JA, Messer RH (1980) Vaginal absorption of povidone-iodine. J Am Med Assoc 244: 2628–2629
Warren JW, Platt R, Thomas RJ, Rosner B, Kass EH (1978) Antibiotic irrigation and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. N Engl J Med 299: 570
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sanderson, P.J. (1987). Prevention and Treatment of Surgical Sepsis. In: Stanton, S.L. (eds) Principles of Gynaecological Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1446-8_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1446-8_4
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1448-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1446-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive