Preoperative Bowel Preparation with Oral Antibiotics Might Increase Wound Infection in Elective Colorectal Resections

Abstract

Preoperative bowel preparation was previously strictly done for all patient undergoing colorectal surgeries. With advances in thesurgical techniquesandpatient care, the role of bowel preparation in surgical complications is questioned. In this studywedescribea non-randomized retrospective analysis of 193 patients who underwent left colon and rectal resections in two different hospitals,the preoperative bowel preparation regimens were different in two hospitals. Both regimens contain mechanical preparation withpolyethylene glycol, however, one hospital administered erythromycin and neomycin and the other hospital did not. From 74 patientsreceiving oral antibiotic eight (10.8%) one developedwoundinfection and from 119 patientswhodid not receive oral antibioticthree (2.5%) patient developed wound infection. This difference was statistically significant. Regarding literature review, it is suggestedto omit oral antibiotic from preoperative bowel preparation regimens elective colorectal resections.

Keywords

• neomycin
• erythromycin
• colectomy
• infection