The impact of prophylactic antibiotics on postoperative infection complication in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized study

Abstract Background The aim of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the necessity and impact of prophylactic antibiotics on postoperative infection complications in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods At the time of induction of anesthesia, group A patients (n = 141) received 1 g cefazolin, and group B patients (control; n=136) received 10 mL isotonic sodium chloride solution. Patients' characteristics and general operative outcomes were compared and analyzed. Results The overall rate of infection was 1.1% for total 277 patients (0.7% for group A patients and 1.5 % for group B patients). No significant difference in infection complications was found between these 2 groups. Also any risk factors contributing to infection complications could not be found. Conclusions We do not recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy because they will not decrease the already-low rate of postoperative infectious complications.