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Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2003; 16(2): 101-108
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40589
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

The Role of Perioperative Antibiotics in Colorectal Surgery

Terry C. Hicks1 , Michael J. Stamos2
  • 1Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 2University of California, Irvine Medical School, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, UC Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 July 2003 (online)

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ABSTRACT

After more than the 60 years since the first report of antibiotic use for prevention of infection following colorectal surgery, the knowledge base has increased dramatically. Despite this expansion of knowledge, the appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial. Options include intravenous antibiotics, oral antibiotics, or both. The available data support concomitant use of oral and intravenous antibiotics and, perhaps more importantly, appropriate timing of the intravenous antibiotics within 2 hours (or less) of surgery start time. In selecting an oral antibiotic regime, it is imperative that both aerobic and anaerobic activities are present in the antibiotics used (i.e., neomycin plus metronidazole or erythromycin base). If a parenteral antibiotic is used without a combination of an oral antimicrobial, it must adhere to the same broad-spectrum coverage of both aerobes and anaerobes. Oral agents should be administered in limited doses the day before the operation. Parenteral antibiotics must be administered in a timely fashion to ensure that adequate tissue levels are present at the time of the incision and be of adequate duration to produce adequate tissue levels during the expected duration of contamination

KEYWORDS

Oral antibiotics - parenteral antibiotics - bacteriology - bowel preparation

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