[Orally administered infection prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery]

Abstract

Orally administered infection prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery Orally administered trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole given at a defined time point at least two hours before elective colorectal surgery can be used as prophylaxis with a small increase in superficial surgical site infections (SSI), if motivated by other benefits such as environmental concerns. However, in upper malignant or bariatric surgery it should be used only in study form. Further, the methods of infection surveillance have a great potential to be improved.