[Value of non-randomized prospective multicenter studies of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis]

Non-randomized prospective multicenter studies involving a large number of patients are often capable to prove effectiveness of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in situations where it is not feasible to carry out highly sophisticated clinical trials due to limitations in logistical or financial resources. Furthermore, these studies tend to give a true picture of the daily work and procedures in hospitals, contrary to controlled trials in clinical research which might suffer of multitudes of restrictions and exclusions. Some non-randomized studies each involving more than 1,000 patients on antibiotic prophylaxis in colonic and biliary surgery as well as appendectomy are discussed and its usefulness demonstrated.