VALUE OF ORAL ANTIBIOTIC-PROPHYLAXIS IN COLORECTAL SURGERY

A total of 169 patients undergoing colorectal surgery were randomly al located to receive either gentamicin plus metronidazole or oral ciprof loxacin plus metronidazole as prophylaxis; for 1 or 3 days. Twenty-eig ht patients (17 per cent) developed postoperative wound infections. Th e proportion of patients with wound infections and other infective com plications was significantly less (P<0.02) in those receiving oral cip rofloxacin. Cover for 3 days was no better than that for only 1 day. O ral ciprofloxacin for prophylaxis may offer advantages in efficacy and ease of administration compared with parenteral antibiotics.