Preoperative antibiotics

Preoperative antibiotics can decrease the incidence of infection after colorectal surgery; for elective operations, an oral regimen of neomycin (not available in Canada) plus either erythromycin or metronidazole appears to be as effective as parenteral drugs. Many surgeons in the US use a combination of oral and parenteral agents. It is controversial whether the combination is more effective than either alone. Preoperative antimicrobials can decrease the incidence of infection after surgery for acute appendicitis .