title: Should antibiotics be administered after endoscopic mucosalresection in patients with colon polyps?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is widely used for treating gastrointestinal polypoid lesions. However, it is currently unclear whether antibiotic administration is necessary after EMR of colon polyps to prevent infection. We aimed to assess whether antibiotic administration is essential in such conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 115 patients with colon polyps were randomly assigned to 3 groups based on the treatment given after EMR: Group A, no antibiotics treatment after EMR (n = 38); Group B, administration of levofloxacin after EMR (n = 38); and Group C, administration of ceftazidime after EMR (n = 39).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The colon polyps were completely removed by EMR in all cases without any serious complications. Although infection developed in 2 cases in Group A, it was resolved via levofloxacin injection over 3 days; infection did not develop in any cases in Group B and C. The postoperative infection rate was not significantly different among Groups A, B, and C. After 6 months, we noted that the wound surface had properly healed and there was no relapse of colon polyps in any patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of antibiotics after EMR of colon polyps to prevent infection did not affect the prognosis of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhimeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xintai Municipal People's Hospital, Taian, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Xintai Municipal People's Hospital, Taian, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huangang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Honggang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003111:Colonic Polyps; D003113:Colonoscopy; D000069916:Endoscopic Mucosal Resection; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Endoscopic mucosal resection; antibiotics; colon polyps