Antibiotic prophylaxis in biliary surgery.

Early studies in which a higher incidence of wound infection and septic complications in biliary surgery was found demonstrated the need for antibiotic prophylaxis. In two studies, one retrospective and one prospective, the role of prophylactic antibiotics in biliary surgery was studied in "at risk" and "no risk" groups of patients. Twenty-eight percent of "no risk" patients had a positive bile culture. It was concluded that a single dose of 1 g cefotaxime, administered upon induction of anaesthesia, is a safe and effective prophylactic regimen in biliary surgery.