[Postoperative wound infections and perioperative preventive antibiotic administration]

Nearly 200 clinical studies concerning perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis are compiled and evaluated by biometric methods, however without fulfilling the criteria of meta-analysis. Derived from its results it can be concluded, that this prophylaxis is indicated for the wound categories "clean" and "clean-contaminated". An effective level of antibiotics is necessary only for the period of operation. No benefits could be demonstrated by prolongation of the prophylaxis or by combination of two or more antibiotics. Regarding the limited power of this compilation a reduction of postoperative wound infections is to be expected in "clean-contaminated" procedures to a quart, in "clean" procedures to a half in comparison with procedures without prophylaxis.