OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic single antibiotic administration in selective open colorectal surgery.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-five patients undergoing selective open colorectal surgery in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2009 to October 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Prophylatic single antibiotic administration was used by intravenous infusion 30-60 min before incision. No antibiotics would be given after operation if there was no surgical site infection(SSI). According to the incidence of postoperative SSI, unexplained use of antibiotics, anastomotic leakage and distant-site infection, the clinical outcome was assessed to be prophylactic success, prophylactic failure or distant-site infection, respectively.

RESULTSThere was no intraoperative or postoperative antibiotics related drug anaphylaxis in all the 275 patients. By prophylactic single antibiotic administration, there were prophylactic success in 243 patients(88.4%,243/275), prophylactic failure in 23(8.4%,23/275), distant-site infection in 9(3.3%,9/275). In the 23 patients with failed prophylaxis, there were SSI in 13(4.7%,13/275) patients, postoperative use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for unexplained fever in 2(0.7%,2/275), postoperative anastomotic leakage in 8(3.6%,8/222).

CONCLUSIONProphylactic single antibiotic administration in selective open colorectal surgery is safe and effective.