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Prophylactic antibiotics in gut surgery

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Wound infections are common following gut surgery, though this risk is substantially reduced with the correct use of prophylactic antibiotics:

  • give antibiotics one hour before surgery
  • administer IV, IM or as suppositories for metronidazole
  • antibiotics can usually be stopped after 24 h
  • use antibiotics which are bactericidal against anaerobes and coliforms

Choice of antibiotic may vary according to local preference.

Examples:

  • biliary surgery:
    • 3 doses of ampicillin 500 mg IV/8 h, or
    • cefuroxime 750 mg/8 h IV/IM, or
    • tazocin 4500 mg/8 h

  • colorectal:
    • 3 doses cefuroxime 750 mg/8 h IV/IM, and
    • metronidazole 500 mg/8 h IV

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