Health Technology Assessment 1998; Vol. 2: No. 7 Review Antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surgery: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials F Song AM Glenny Health Technology Assessment NHS R&D HTA Programme HTA Standing Group on Health Technology Chair: Professor Sir Miles Irving, Professor of Surgery, University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Salford † Dr Sheila Adam, Professor Sir John Grimley Evans, Professor Ian Russell, Department of Health Department of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Health, Sciences & Professor Martin Buxton, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford † Clinical Evaluation, University of York Professor of Economics, Brunel University † Mr John H James, Professor Trevor Sheldon, Professor Angela Coulter, Chief Executive, Kensington, Chelsea & Director, NHS Centre for Reviews & Westminster Health Authority † Director, King’s Fund, London Dissemination, University of York Professor Richard Lilford, Professor Mike Smith, Professor Anthony Culyer, Regional Director, R&D, West Midlands † Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of York Director, The Research School Professor Michael Maisey, of Medicine, University of Leeds † Dr Peter Doyle, Professor of Radiological Sciences, Dr Charles Swan, Executive Director, Zeneca Ltd, UMDS, London ACOST Committee on Medical Research Consultant Gastroenterologist, & Health Dr Jeremy Metters, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor John Farndon, Department of Health † Dr John Tripp, Professor of Surgery, University of Bristol † Department of Child Health, Royal Devon Mrs Gloria Oates, & Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust † Professor Charles Florey, Chief Executive, Oldham NHS Trust Professor Tom Walley, Department of Epidemiology & Dr George Poste, Department of Pharmacological Public Health, Ninewells Hospital & Chief Science & Technology Officer, † Therapeutics, University of Liverpool † Medical School, University of Dundee SmithKline Beecham † Professor John Gabbay, Professor Michael Rawlins, Dr Julie Woodin, Director, Wessex Institute for Health Wolfson Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Chief Executive, † Research & Development † University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Nottingham Health Authority Dr Tony Hope, Professor Martin Roland, The Medical School, University of Oxford † Professor of General Practice, Professor Howard Glennester, University of Manchester Professor of Social Science & Mr Hugh Ross, Administration, London School of Chief Executive, The United Bristol Economics & Political Science Healthcare NHS Trust † † Current members HTA Commissioning Board Chair: Professor Charles Florey, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee † Professor Ian Russell, Professor Sir Miles Irving Dr Tim Peters, Department of Health, Sciences & (Programme Director), Professor of Department of Social Medicine, Clinical Evaluation, University of York * Surgery, University of Manchester, University of Bristol † † Dr Doug Altman, Hope Hospital, Salford Professor David Sackett, Director, Institute of Health Sciences, Professor Alison Kitson, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, Oxford † Director, Royal College of Oxford Nursing Institute † Mr Peter Bower, Professor Martin Severs, Independent Management Consultant, Professor Martin Knapp, Professor in Elderly Health Care, Newcastle-upon-Tyne † Director, Personal Social Services Portsmouth University † Ms Christine Clark, Research Unit, London School of Economics & Political Science Dr David Spiegelhalter, Hon. Research Pharmacist, Hope Hospital, MRC Biostatistics Unit, Institute of † Salford Dr Donna Lamping, Public Health, Cambridge Professor David Cohen, London School of Hygiene & † Dr Ala Szczepura, Professor of Health Economics, Tropical Medicine Director, Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Glamorgan Professor Theresa Marteau, University of Warwick † Mr Barrie Dowdeswell, Director, Psychology & Genetics Chief Executive, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Research Group, UMDS, London Professor Graham Watt, Department of General Practice, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Professor Alan Maynard, Woodside Health Centre, Glasgow † Professor Martin Eccles, Professor of Economics, Professor of Clinical Effectiveness, University of York † Professor David Williams, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne † Department of Clinical Engineering, Professor Sally McIntyre, University of Liverpool Dr Mike Gill, MRC Medical Sociology Unit, Brent & Harrow Health Authority † Glasgow Dr Mark Williams, Public Health Physician, Bristol Dr Jenny Hewison, Professor Jon Nicholl, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Director, Medical Care Research Unit, Dr Jeremy Wyatt, University of Leeds † University of Sheffield † Institute for Health Sciences, † Dr Michael Horlington, Professor Gillian Parker, University College London Head of Corporate Licensing, Smith & Nuffield Professor of Community Care, * Previous Chair Nephew Group Research Centre University of Leicester † † Current members HTA How to obtain copies of this and other HTA Programme reports. 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Paying by official purchase order You can post or fax these, but they must be from public bodies (i.e. NHS or universities) within the UK. We cannot at present accept purchase orders from commercial companies or from outside the UK. How do I get a copy of HTA on CD? Please use the form on the HTA website (www.hta.ac.uk/htacd.htm). Or contact Direct Mail Works (see contact details above) by email, post, fax or phone. HTA on CD is currently free of charge worldwide. The website also provides information about the HTA Programme and lists the membership of the various committees. Antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surgery: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials F Song AM Glenny NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination University of York UK Published May 1998 This report should be referenced as follows: Song F,Glenny AM. Antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surgery: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Health Technol Assessment 1998;2(7). Health Technology Assessment is indexed in Index Medicus/MEDLINE and Excerpta Medica/ EMBASE. Copies of the Executive Summaries are available from the NCCHTA web site (see overleaf). NHS R&D HTA Programme he overall aim of the NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme T is to ensure that high-quality research information on the costs, effectiveness and broader impact of health technologies is produced in the most efficient way for those who use, manage and work in the NHS. Research is undertaken in those areas where the evidence will lead to the greatest benefits to patients, either through improved patient outcomes or the most efficient use of NHS resources. The Standing Group on Health Technology advises on national priorities for health technology assessment. Six advisory panels assist the Standing Group in identifying and prioritising projects. These priorities are then considered by the HTA Commissioning Board supported by the National Coordinating Centre for HTA (NCCHTA). This report is one of a series covering acute care, diagnostics and imaging, methodology, pharmaceuticals, population screening, and primary and community care. It was identified as a priority by the Pharmaceutical Panel. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Standing Group, the Commissioning Board, the Panel members or the Department of Health. The editors wish to emphasise that funding and publication of this research by the NHS should not be taken as implicit support for the recommendations for policy contained herein. In particular, policy options in the area of screening will, in England, be considered by