Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Bariatric Surgical Procedures: Is There an Ideal Antimicrobial Agent?

When patients with significant comorbid risk factors undergo surgical procedures, they are at high risk for development of post-operative infectious complications, including surgical site infection (SSI). Obese patients characteristically fit within this risk category, and thus it is of paramount importance to establish evidence-based strategies to mitigate these infectious complications. The use of an antimicrobial prophylactic regimen is a well-established practice and is based on the principle of the "right drug, at the right time, in the right place." The subject of this article is to review the current evidence-based data on antimicrobial prophylaxis in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgical procedures.