Efficacy of short term versus long term intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients with ASA-I/II undergoing elective curative surgery for Gastric, Colon and Gynaecological cancers: A randomised control trial

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant challenge in surgical oncology, increasing morbidity, prolonging hospital stays, and escalating healthcare costs. Patients undergoing curative surgeries for gastric, colorectal, and gynecological cancers are particularly susceptible due to complex procedures, potential intraoperative contamination, and patient-specific factors such as immunosuppression and comorbidities. While extended antimicrobial prophylaxis has traditionally been used in oncologic surgeries, recent guidelines advocate for short-term prophylaxis (typically a single dose or up to 24 hours post-surgery) in elective procedures. Evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses indicates that short-term prophylaxis is non-inferior to extended regimens in preventing SSIs, offering additional benefits such as reduced antibiotic resistance, fewer adverse events, and lower costs. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of short-term versus extended antimicrobial prophylaxis, assess the adequacy of short-term regimens in cancer surgeries, and provide evidence-based recommendations to guide clinical practice.