Neomycin and the combination of neomycin and bacitracin in the prevention of bacterial infection in surgery of the colon and/or rectum.

In two groups of patients submitted to surgery of the colon and/or rectum, treatment to prevent bacterial infections using a combination of 100 mg neomycin and 10,000 U bacitracin every 6 h for 48 h gave the same results as neomycin employed alone at a dosage of 500 mg every 6 h for 48 h. Results confirm the synergism of action between neomycin and bacitracin.