Antibiotics covering aerobic and aerobic bacteria should be delivered orally and intravenously prior to colorectal surgery.  Antibiotics delivered within this framework will reduce the risk of postoperative SWI by at least 75%.  Further research is required to establish the optimal timing and duration of dosing, and frequency of longer-term adverse effects such as Clostridium difficile pseudomembranous colitis.
A randomized prospective study to compare cefotetan with cefuroxime plus metronidazole as prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery.
This study compares the efficacy of cefotetan with the combination of cefuroxime plus metronidazole as antibiotic prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery when given over the first 24 h postoperatively. There was no significant difference in wound infection rates between the two groups (14.7% for cefotetan and 13.9% for cefuroxime plus metronidazole), or the rates of other infective complications. Adverse reactions occurred with equal frequency in both treatment groups and no serious side effects occurred. Cefotetan is a safe and effective antibiotic for use as prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery. Its advantages are that it is a single agent with a spectrum covering both aerobic Gram-negative rods and anaerobic organisms and, because of its long half-life, needs only to be given at 12-hourly intervals.