The impact of prophylactic antibiotics on postoperative infection complication in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized study

Background: The aim of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the necessity and impact of prophylactic antibiotics on postoperative infection complications in elective laparoscopic cholecystectonny. Methods: At the time of induction of anesthesia, group A patients (n = 141) received 1 g cefazolin, and group B patients (control; n 136) received 10 mL isotonic sodium chloride solution. Patients' characteristics and general operative outcomes were compared and analyzed. Results: The overall rate of infection was 1.1% for total 277 patients (0.7% for group A patients and 1.5% for group B patients). No significant difference in infection complications was found between these 2 groups. Also any risk factors contributing to infection complications could not be found. Conclusions: We do not recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy because they will not decrease the already-low rate of postoperative infectious complications. (c) 2006 Excerpta Medica Inc. All rights reserved.