Prophylactic systemic antibiotics in colorectal surgery.

The prophylactic value of gentamicin combined with either lincomycin or metronidazole in 52 patients undergoing colorectal surgery was investigated. The results confirmed the value of this practice. In a control group, the sepsis-rate was 48% with 1 death attributable to sepsis, compared with a sepsis-rate of 4% in the treated group. The combination of gentamicin and lincomycin was effective against sepsis but pseudomembranous colitis developed in 2 of the 14 patients treated with this combination of drugs. Lincomycin was discontinued, and when metronidazole was substituted the results were equally good and there were no toxic side-effects.