The value of the prophylactic use of doxycycline and tinidazole in elective colorectal surgery.

The present study was undertaken in order to compare the effect of different antimicrobial regimens on the incidence of postoperative wound infections after elective colorectal surgery. The series consists of 84 patients, randomized in the following three groups: Group I was treated with bacitracin/neomycin tablets during the 3 days immediately prior to operation. Group II received doxycycline 200 mg orally 12-18 hours preoperatively and 200 mg intravenously during the subsequent 4 days. Group III is identical with group II, but in addition, 2 grams of tinidazole were given orally as a single dose 12-18 hours preoperatively. The ordinary preoperative treatment with low residue diet and bowel cleansing was the same for all groups. The wound infection rate was 37% (10 patients) in group I, 18.2% (6 patients) in group II, and 8.3% (2 patients) in group III. No serious side effects were observed in any of the groups.