Strategies for antibiotic administration for bowel preparation among patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. A network meta-analysis.

This analysis included 8377 patients from 35 RCTs. Optimal reduction in infection/dehiscence rates was achieved by a combination of oral and intravenous antibiotics, with or without cleansing with enema. The addition of oral to intravenous antibiotics reduced surgical site infection by greater than 50 per cent.

Comment: the best evidence that both oral and intravenous antibiotics should be routine.