Randomized multicentre trial of oral bowel preparation and antimicrobials for elective colorectal operations

Abstract

A study of 120 patients undergoing elective colorectal operations has investigated the effect of adding oral neomycin and metronidazole to bowel preparation in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Comparisons have also been made between a standard mechanical preparation and the use of an elemental diet. The addition of neomycin and metronidazole to bowel preparation significantly reduced the rate of wound sepsis (P<0.01), septicaemia (P<0.02) and anastomotic dehiscence (P<0.02); anaerobic infections were abolished and there was a significant reduction in the incidence of aerobic Gram-negative infections. Elemental diets were shown to have no advantage over mechanical preparation.