Penicillins Lead in SSI Prevention

Network meta-analysis compares antibiotic classes for colorectal surgery prophylaxis

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Broad-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporin combinations are the most effective antibiotics for preventing surgical site infections in colorectal surgery.
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The meta-analysis included 105 trials with 18,273 patients, focusing on 30-day surgical site infection risk and mortality.
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Broad-spectrum penicillins were linked to a 74% relative reduction in surgical site infection risk and lower all-cause mortality.
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No significant differences were found in hospital stay length or overall adverse event rates among the antibiotic regimens studied.
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The findings highlight the need for careful antibiotic selection in colorectal surgery and may inform future clinical guidelines.

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