Abstract

Antimicrobial prophylaxis is the periprocedural systemic administration of an antimicrobial agent intended to reduce the risk of postprocedural local and systemic infection. However, the use of antibiotics in urologic surgery has been controversial for decades. Significant progress in prostate surgery was made during the previous decade, however, controversy over antibiotic prophylaxis for prostatic surgery remains. In the context of surgical field classification, transurethral resection of the prostate and radical prostatectomy can be categorized according to a clean-contaminated operation. Therefore, in this regard, administration of prophylactic antibiotics is appropriate for prevention of postoperative infectious complications. Unfortunately, however, studies of the prophylactic effect of antimicrobial therapy with prostatic surgery have been limited. There is currently a lack of information on the risk factors for infectious complications associated with prostate surgery in Korea. In addition, the Korean National Health Insurance System recently recommended the use of current guidelines for surgical site infection focusing on gastrointestinal surgery, not urinary tract infection in patients undergoing prostate surgery without any Korean evidence. Because many urological procedures are associated with urine exposure and endourological procedures, these guidelines cannot be adapted to urologic prostatic surgery. In open or laparoscopic prostatic surgery (radical prostatectomy or prostatectomy), the urinary tract is opened during the procedure; thus, postoperative bacteriuria is probably the main source of postoperative infectious complications.

• Keywords: Antibiotic prophylaxis; Prostate; Surgical wound infections; Postoperative complications