Infectious problems in elective surgery of the alimentary tract: the influence of pre-operative factors

SummaryThe influence of some pre-operative factors on infectious complications after elective abdominal surgery was investigated in a prospective multi-centre study of 1537 patients in surgical departments regularly using a standardized prophylactic antibiotic regimen. A total of 1101 patients received 1600 mg tinidazole plus 400 mg doxycycline intravenously 1-hour pre-operatively. Analysis of the results showed that increasing age, malignancy, risk factors noted by the surgeon before the surgical procedure, and discrepancies between assumed disease and peri-operative findings were associated with significantly more post-operative complications, but not more infectious complications related to peri-operative contamination. Pre-operative hospital stay did not influence the infection rate provided that prophylaxis was given.