Parenteral and oral antibiotics in elective colon and rectal surgery. A prospective, randomized trial

Our evaluation consisted of a prospective, randomized clinical trial in a homogenous group of 241 patients undergoing elective colon and rectal resections. A significant decrease in wound infection was found in the patients who received intravenous cefoxitin in conjunction with standard bowel preparation. The infection rate correlated with the type of resection; rectal resections had the highest rate in each study group, but parenteral prophylaxis produced a significantly lower wound infection rate. E. coli and Staph. aureus were the most common bacterial isolates in both groups. B. fragilis was recovered in only two Group A patients, which most likely reflects the exceedingly low recovery rate of anaerobic bacteria in our laboratory. Urinary cultures were positive in a large number of patients and reflect the standard use of Foley catheterization in all patients who undergo resection of the colon or rectum. These data indicate that perioperative prophylactic administration of cefoxitin reduces the wound sepsis rate when combined with oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation in patients undergoing resection of the colon or rectum.