Prophylaxis loosely means the prevention of an infection and can be classified as primary prophylaxis, secondary prophylaxis, or eradication. 

Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is not a method of tissue sterilization, but a precisely timed measure to decrease the microbial load of intraoperative contamination to a level that does not overwhelm the host immune defence. 

 

Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis has become standard practice for patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Antibiotics covering aerobic and aerobic bacteria should be delivered orally and intravenously prior to colorectal surgery. Antibiotics delivered within this framework will reduce the risk of postoperative SWI by at least 75%.