Antibiotics need to be administered to patients prior to colorectal surgery

Nelson RL, Glenny AM, Song F

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

Abdominal surgical wound infection (SWI) in patients having operations on the large intestine occurs in about 40% of patients if antibiotics are not given. This risk can be greatly diminished by the administration of antibiotics prophylactically before surgery. This review determined the best choice of antibiotic type, and the way in which they should be administered by analysing 182 randomised controlled trials. The antibiotic(s) given must cover both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, be given only once before surgery, and, because of current recommendations concerning colonic cleansing before surgery, should probably be given intravenously.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Research shows that administration of prophylactic antibiotics before colorectal surgery prevents postoperative surgical wound infection (SWI). The best antibiotic choice, timing of administration and route of administration remain undetermined.

Objectives:

To establish the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis for the prevention of SWI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery: specifically to determine,
1 Whether it reduces risk of SWI.
2 The target spectrum/a of bacteria (aerobic and/or anaerobic).
3 The best timing and duration of antibiotic administration.
4 The most effective route of antibiotic administration (intravenous, oral or both).
5 Whether any antibiotic is clearly more effective than the currently recommended gold standard.

Search strategy:

CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, were searched from January, 1980 to December, 2007.

Selection criteria:

Randomised controlled trials of prophylactic antibiotic use in elective and emergency colorectal surgery, with SWI as an outcome.

Data collection and analysis:

Data were abstracted and reviewed by three authors for only the single, dichotomous outcome of SWI.

Main results:

The review included 182 trials (30,880 participants), and 50 different antibiotics, including 17 cephalosporins. Many studies had multiple variables that separated the two study groups and could not be compared to other studies that tested one antibiotic and had a single variable separating the two groups.
Meta-analyses demonstrated a statistically significant difference in postoperative SWI when prophylactic antibiotics were compared to placebo/no treatment (relative risk (RR) 0.30, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.22 to 0.41). No statistically significant differences were shown when comparing short- and long-term duration of prophylaxis (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.27); or single dose versus multiple dose antibiotics (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.05). Additional aerobic coverage and additional anaerobic coverage both showed statistically significant improvements in SWI rates (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.71 and RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.85, respectively); as did combined oral and intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis when compared to intravenous alone (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.74), or oral alone (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.87).
Established gold standard regimens were no less effective than any other antibiotic choice.

Authors' conclusions:

Antibiotics covering aerobic and aerobic bacteria should be delivered orally and intravenously prior to colorectal surgery. Antibiotics delivered within this framework will reduce the risk of postoperative SWI by at least 75%. Further research is required to establish the optimal timing and duration of dosing, and frequency of longer-term adverse effects such as Clostridium difficile pseudomembranous colitis.

This record should be cited as:

Nelson RL, Glenny AM, Song F. Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD001181. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001181.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

October 10, 2008

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Primary Review Group:

Colorectal Cancer Group

PEARLS - Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations (click to read)

Clinical question:

How effective is antimicrobial prophylaxis for the prevention of postoperative surgical wound infection (SWI) in patients undergoing colorectal surgery?

Bottom line:

Antibiotics delivered orally and intravenously prior to colorectal surgery reduce the risk of postoperative SWI by at least 75%. No statistically significant differences were shown when comparing short and long term duration of prophylaxis, or single versus multiple dose antibiotics. Established gold standard regimens were as effective as other antibiotic choices.

Caveat:

The antibiotic(s) given must cover both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Further research is required to establish the optimal timing and duration of dosing, and frequency of longer term adverse effects, such as Clostridium difficile pseudomembranous colitis.

Context:

Abdominal SWI in patients having operations on the large intestine occurs in about 40% of patients if antibiotics are not given. This risk can be greatly diminished by the administration of antibiotics prophylactically before surgery.

Cochrane Systematic Review:

Nelson RL et al. Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery. Cochrane Reviews 2009. Issue 1. Article No. CD001181. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD001181.pub3. This review contains 182 studies involving 30,880 participants, and 50 different antibiotics, including 17 cephalosporins.

Authored by:

Brian R McAvoy

Cochrane Primary Health Care Field

Health topics:

Gastroenterology > Non-neoplastic disease of the small & large bowel > Abdominal surgery & post-operative complications

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Antibiotics need to be administered to patients prior to colorectal surgery

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