Influence of additional prophylactic oral antibiotics during mechanical bowel preparation on surgical site infection in patients receiving colorectal surgery

Abstract Background Prophylactic antibiotics (PAs) are standard for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) post‐colorectal surgery. This study aims to compare the effect of additional empiric oral antibiotics (OAs) alongside routine PAs to identify SSI risk factors. Methods A retrospective observatory analysis was conducted from January 2019 to December 2022 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The cohort was divided into two groups: PA given 1 h before surgery and discontinued within 24 h, and OA administered empiric OAs during mechanical bowel preparation in addition to PA. Results From a total of 6736 patients, 3482 were in the PA group and 3254 in the OA group. SSI incidence showed no significant intergroup difference ( p = 0.374) even after propensity score matching ( p = 0.338). The multivariable analysis revealed male sex odds ratio (OR): 2.153, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.626–2.852, and p = 0.001, open surgery (OR: 3.335, 95% CI: 2.456–4.528, and p = 0.001), dirty wound (OR: 2.171, 95% CI: 1.256–3.754, and p = 0.006), and an operation time of more than 145 min (OR: 2.110, 95% CI: 1.324–3.365, and p = 0.002) as SSI risk factors. In rectal surgery subgroup, OA demonstrated a protective effect against SSI (OR: 0.613, 95% CI: 0.408–0.922, and p = 0.019) and in laparoscopic approach (OR: 0.626, 95% CI: 0.412–0.952, and p = 0.028). Conclusions OA did not affect SSI incidence in colorectal surgeries. Male sex, open surgery, dirty wounds, and longer operation time were risk factors for SSI. However, for rectal and laparoscopic surgery, OA was a protective factor for SSI.