[Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (single or multiple dose) in elective colorectal surgery. A randomized study].

In a randomized trial in 60 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery the efficiency of intravenous antibiotic short time prophylaxis was determined. We compared single dose application with multiple dose prophylaxis for 24 h. The substance used was cefotaxime. The rate of wound infections was comparable in both groups (16.6 vs. 13.3%) as well as postoperative infections of the urinary tract (33.3 vs. 23.3%). The results of the study suggest that single dose prophylaxis is as efficient as multiple dose application to reduce postoperative infections in elective colorectal surgery.