Omitting antibiotics in mild cholecystitis reduces unnecessary use.

  • Perioperative antibiotics did not significantly lower infectious complications: 9% with antibiotics vs. 12% without.
  • Surgical site infections were also similar: 5% vs. 8%.

Surgeons can consider forgoing antibiotics in healthy patients with mild-moderate acute cholecystitis.

  • No differences in length of hospital stay or mortality were observed.
  • Further research is needed for high-risk patient populations.

Review by Jensen PUD, Graabæk F, Tolstrup MB and Shabanzadeh DM in Am J Surg

Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

read the whole article in Am J Surg

open it in PubMed