• Donald E Fry.
• Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. dfry@m-pine.com
• Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2008 Dec 1; 9 (6): 547-52.

BackgroundElective colon surgery has the highest rate of surgical site infection (SSI) of any elective procedure in surgery. The evolution of strategies for the prevention of SSI has had the correct use of preventive antibiotics as a crucial component.MethodsReview of the pertinent English-language literature.ResultsCorrect use of prophylactic antibiotics in elective colon surgery requires that the drug have activity against colonic aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, be administered immediately before the surgical incision, and not be continued into the postoperative period. All of the documented and many of the theoretically feasible antibiotic choices are discussed in terms of their advantages for this indication.ConclusionsThe best outcomes in the prevention of SSI in elective colon surgery are achieved when appropriate systemic antibiotics are employed in conjunction with the appropriate use of oral antibiotic bowel preparation.

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