Value of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal antibiotics in reducing infection in clean contaminated operations of the colon.

A prospective study of 443 patients undergoing clean contaminated operations of the colon was undertaken to determine the efficacy of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal antibiotics in reducing infection. All of the patients received a mechanical intestinal preparation as well as preoperative antibiotics taken orally and preoperative and postoperative antibiotics administered intravenously. The over-all wound infection rate was 2 per cent. The routine additional use of subcutaneous or intraperitoneal antibiotics had no proved efficacy in this study.