AB038. SOH23ABS_190. Selective antibiotic decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract reduces infectious complications in elective colorectal surgery

Background: Controversy exists over the optimal bowel preparation strategy in elective colorectal surgery. While intravenous (IV) antibiotics at anaesthetic induction reduces surgical site infection (SSI) rates and is standard-of-care, the role of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), enemas (EN), oral antibiotics (OAB), and their effect on SSI, anastomotic leak (AL) rates and other perioperative outcomes is unclear. Aim: to determine the optimal preoperative bowel preparation strategy in elective colorectal surgery.