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This article focuses on a study related to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tubes are frequently placed to allow nutrition of dysphagic patients, particularly following stroke. 28% of patients in this study grew MRSA from peristomal swabs. Similar rates of peristomal infection and MRSA infection have been found previously in Great Britain. Current antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines are unlikely to make any significant impact on peristomal infection rates while the commonest organisms involved are resistant.

BSG guidelines advise antibiotic prophylaxis at insertion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes. The evidence for these guidelines was largely based upon data from cancer patients; however, the majority of patients requiring PEG insertion in Great Britain, have benign disease. Authors therefore did a randomised double blind controlled trial to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis is beneficial for non-cancer patients requiring PEGs. They concluded that antibiotic prophylaixis before PEG insertion significantly reduces both localised and systemic infection, and may help reduce early mortality.