Prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis longer than 24 hours does not decrease surgical site infection after elective gastric and colorectal surgery.

Abstract

From our findings, SSI rate did not decrease with longer duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis. We concluded that we must recognize that the cause of postoperative wound infection is multimodal, and should not rely on antibiotics to prevent postoperative SSI but that surgeons should reduce the risk for postoperative SSI.