title: [Perioperative infection prophylaxis in gastrointestinal surgery].
abstract: Antibiotic perioperative prophylaxis is known to reduce postoperative infections and is generally administered as single-dose regimen today. Effective prophylaxis requires plasma- and tissue concentrations above the MIC of the expected bacterial spectrum throughout the whole operation from skin incision to wound closure. In longlasting operations a second dose after 4 hours is recommended. Indications for antibiotic prophylaxis are clean-contaminated or contaminated procedures according to Cruse and in patients with elevated risk of infection. Generally antibiotic prophylaxis is administered intravenously. Chinolons achieving high tissue- and plasmalevels and showing a broad antibacterial spectrum seem appropriate to be used for oral prophylaxis. In a prospective study in 36 patients pharmocokinetics of ofloxacin were measured perioperatively and proper plasma- and tissue concentrations were attained. A following prospective randomized study in 56 patients undergoing colonic or pancreatic resections oral prophylaxis did not show a higher infection rate compared with a standard intravenous prophylaxis. Therefore oral prophylaxis seems to be an attractive option, its effectivity needs to be proven by studies with sufficiently high patient numbers.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik I, Universität Ulm.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isenmann
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Beger
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents