[Results of enteral antibiotic preparation prior to colon surgery].

Of the 108 patients explored, all received four days preoperatively dietary and mechanical preparation and were given one of the two antibiotic combinations according to their date of birth (58 patients, group I--Neomycin-Bacitracin; 50 patients, group II--Cephaloridin-Colistinsulfate). Bacteriologic studies of stools from the day before beginning of preparation, preoperatively and from the day of operation (intestinal mucous membrane of 70 patients) revealed that the fecal flora of the majority of the patients was abnormal. After antibiotic treatment the bacteriologic studies of stools showed a significant reduction of bacteria. In group II, full asepsis was reached in 42.4% of patients, in group I, in only 13.5%. The price of antibiotics and the preoperative intestinal bacteria should be used as criteria in choosing the preparation for colon operations.