Preventing postoperative infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria

Preoperative screening for faecal carriage of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria may be considered for patients undergoing complex gastrointestinal surgery or transrectal prostate biopsy if they have an increased risk of colonisation with these bacteria (see Risk factors for infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Prophylaxis for patients colonised with a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterium should be guided by the results of susceptibility testing—seek expert advice.

At the time of writing, there are no data to support preoperative decolonisation to reduce or eliminate faecal carriage of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.