Specific intraoperative antibiotic therapy abrogates the negative effect of biliary contamination on the...

The effect of bacterobilia on morbidity after pancreatoduodenectomy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of positive intraoperative bile cultures and perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis on morbidity measured using the Comprehensive Complication Index, a weighted composite of postoperative complications.

Intraoperative bile cultures of 182 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy were obtained. We examined the effect of intraoperative bile cultures and perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis on the Comprehensive Complication Index and the occurrence of postoperative complications. To this aim, we performed general linear models controlling for relevant demographic and perioperative factors.

Positive (versus negative) intraoperative bile cultures were associated with a higher mean Comprehensive Complication Index (25.34 vs 16.81, P = .025). The mean Comprehensive Complication Index differed significantly between individuals with positive intraoperative bile cultures and bacterial strains not covered by perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (26.2) versus positive intraoperative bile cultures and bacterial strains sensitive to perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (22.7) (P = .045). Positive (versus negative) intraoperative bile cultures were associated with 4.75 times (95% confidence interval: 1.74-13.00, P = .002) greater odds of wound infections. The odds of wound infection were 1.93 times (95% confidence interval: .47-8.04) greater in those with positive intraoperative bile cultures and adequate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and 6.14 times (95% confidence interval: 2.17-17.35) greater in those with positive intraoperative bile cultures and inadequate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (versus negative intraoperative bile cultures) (P = .001).

Bacterobilia is associated with a significant increase in Comprehensive Complication Index and wound infections after pancreatoduodenectomy, which may be reduced by administration of a specific perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Acquisition of bile cultures sampled through the external conduit of patients with preoperative biliary drainage could help in selecting a specific perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis and patients with bile duct stents might benefit from broad spectrum perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.