ANTIMICROBIAL PROPHYLAXIS IN BOWEL SURGERY IN THE NETHERLANDS

The guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in various types of bowel surgery (colorectal, biliary and gastroduodenal) in 33 antibiotic for mularies used by 89 Dutch hospitals were studied. The majority of the formularies recommended drugs with adequate efficacy against bacteria most frequently associated with surgical wound infection. Amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid and first- or second-generation cephalosporins, with o r without metronidazole, were recommended most frequently. Recommendat ions for third-generation cephalosporins and broad-spectrum penicillin s were limited. A relatively high proportion (between 52 and 66%) of t he formularies recommended multiple-dose regimens.