The Impact of Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Weight Loss Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Although >10% of surgical patients receive alternative antibiotic prophylaxis for reported penicillin allergies, it is estimated that <20% of such cases represent true allergies that preclude standard prophylaxis. Each antibiotic class has a distinct impact on the intestinal microbiota and on postoperative metabolomics. The community structure and function of the microbiota are linked to the ability to lose weight after bariatric surgery. This study demonstrates differential weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between patients who received standard (cefoxitin) and alternative (levofloxacin and metronidazole) perioperative prophylaxis. Multivariate analysis demonstrates that alternative prophylaxis is significantly and independently associated with diminished postoperative weight loss.