Failure of chloramphenicol prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of abscess formation as a complication of envenoming by Bothrops snakes in Brazil: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Jorge, M. T., Malaque, C., Ribeiro, L. A., Fan, H. W., Cardoso, J. L. C., Nishioka, S. A., Sano-Martins, I. S., Franca, F. O. S., Kamiguti, A. S., Theakston, R.David G. and Warrell, David A. (2004) 'Failure of chloramphenicol prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of abscess formation as a complication of envenoming by Bothrops snakes in Brazil: a double-blind randomized controlled trial'. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 98, Issue 9, pp. 529-534.

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Abstract

Bites by many species of venomous snake may result in local necrosis at, or extending from, the site of the bite. The use of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection as a complication of local necrotic envenoming is controversial. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out to assess whether antibiotic therapy is effective in this situation. Two hundred and fifty-one patients, with proven envenoming by snakes of the genus Bothrops, admitted to two hospitals in Brazil, between 1990 and 1996, were randomized to receive either oral chloramphenicol (500 mg every six hours for five days) or placebo. One hundred and twenty-two of these patients received chloramphenicol. (group 1) and 129 were given placebo (group 2). There were no significant differences between the groups at the time of admission. Necrosis developed in seven (5.7%) patients in group 1 and in five (3.9%) patients in group 2 (P > 0.05) white abscesses occurred in six patients (4.9%) in group 1 and in six (4.7%) patients in group 2 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the use of orally-administered chloramphenicol for victims of Bothrops snake bite with signs of Local envenoming on admission, is not effective for the prevention of local infections. (C) 2004 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	snake bite bothrops chloramphenicol prophylaxis abscesses brazil bacterial-flora bites jararaca venom antibiotics infection vipers
Subjects:	QV Pharmacology > Anti-Bacterial Agents. Tissue Extracts > QV 350.5.C5 Chloramphenicol WC Communicable Diseases > Infection. Bacterial Infections > General Infection > WC 195 Infection. Cross infection. Laboratory infection WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc > Animal Poisons > WD 410 Reptiles
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Molecular & Biochemical Parasitology Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2003.12.009
Depositing User:	Martin Chapman
Date Deposited:	07 Mar 2013 15:19
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:03
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2232

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