Mechanical Bowel Preparation With or Without Oral Antibiotics in Left Sided Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Trial (MEBOA Trial)

Surgical site infection (SSI) after colorectal surgery is a common postoperative complication, with rates of 15% to 20%, and significantly affects patient morbidity and mortality.

Given the high frequency of SSIs following colorectal procedures and the limited effectiveness of other preventive strategies, the combination of oral antibiotics with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP)-a technique initially evaluated in the 1970s but later discontinued-has regained attention as a potentially effective preventive approach. Recent studies have evaluated the combination of oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) with perioperative intravenous antibiotics, showing a significant reduction in the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs).

The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society indicates that randomized controlled trials provide some evidence supporting the use of both mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics together, rather than using mechanical bowel preparation alone. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Clinical Practice Guidelines also advise the combined use of mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics for patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Mechanical bowel preparation before right sided colonic surgery offers no clinical benefit and may lead to preoperative dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and patient discomfort. However, MBP is beneficial in left sided colorectal rectal surgery.

Despite growing evidence supporting the use of oral antibiotics combined with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), significant variability in clinical practice persists. In current practice, oral antibiotics are not routinely prescribed for colorectal cancer patients, so this will be interesting to evaluate the effect of oral antibiotics in this population.