Fundamental studies have not been sufficiently made on the prevention of postoperative infections with chemotherapeutics. The present paper deals with experimental studies on the effects of chemotherapeutics in the prevention of operative wounds from infection.
On the backs of rabbits, weighing 2 kg, slight skin incisions of 2 cm long, without hurting muscular membrane, were made and 0.05 cc of broth culture of staphylococcus aureus (Aoki strain) was smeared into the incisions. The rabbits were classified into 4 groups, according to doses and times of administration of Pc: group I, 10, 000 units/kg 1 time ; group II, 20, 000 units/kg for 4 times; group III, 50, 000 units/kg for one time and group IV, 50, 000 units/kg for 4 times. Each group consisted from 6 rabbits for different days of administration, from 2 to 7 days. Results were as follows:
1) Macroscopical findings: Rate of healing: Healing became evident by 5th day in cases of over 4 days of administration in the groups j and I, and by 4th day in cases of over days of administration in the groups III and IV.
2) In each group, inflammation-causative bacteria were demonstrated in the wounds as late as the 7th day, and even in the healed wounds.
3) Patho-histological findings: Extent of regenerated epidermis did not always agree with the healing, however, healing was better in cases of larger doses and longer administration. In some cases, epidermis was perfectly regenerated, while big abscess was seen in the deeper part. By 3rd day, severe cellular infiltrations were observed in all groups, especially, in groups I and II and control, phlegmon extended as deep as muscular layers. By 5th day, diffuse inflammation was seen in groups I and II
Conclusion: Differences were observed between cases of Pc administration with different doses and times and days. For the prevention of inflammation of infected operative wounds, administration of Pc of high units for at least 5 days shall be conducted
