Factors Associated with Receipt of Oral Antibiotic Agents and Mechanical Bowel Preparation before Elective Colectomy

Background: Pre-operative administration of combined oral antibiotic agents and mechanical bowel preparation has been demonstrated to improve post-operative outcomes after elective colectomy, however, many patients do not receive combined preparation. Patient and procedural determinants of combined preparation receipt remain understudied. Patients and Methods: All patients undergoing elective colectomy within the 2018 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Participant Use File and Targeted Colectomy datasets were included. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with receipt of combined preparation. Results: A total of 21,889 patients were included, of whom 13,848 (63.2%) received combined preparation pre-operatively. Patients who received combined preparation tended to be younger, male, of white race, and of non-Hispanic ethnicity (all p < 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, male gender, body mass index (BMI) 30–39 kg/m2, independent functional status, and laparoscopic and robotic surgical approaches were associated with receipt of combined preparation (all p < 0.05), whereas Asian race, hypertension, disseminated cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease were associated with omission of combined preparation (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with risk factors for infectious complications—including a poor functional status, comorbid conditions, and undergoing an open procedure—are less likely to receive combined preparation before elective colectomy. Similarly, female and Asian patients are less likely to receive combined preparation, emphasizing the need for equitable administration of combined preparation.