Broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotics improve pancreatoduodenectomy outcomes

A systematic review involving 12,469 patients indicates that broad-spectrum penicillin-based antibiotics (bs-ab) notably reduce surgical site infections, postoperative pancreatic fistula rates, and mortality compared to standard cephalosporins. Specifically, bs-ab led to a 47% decrease in surgical site infections and a 38% reduction in postoperative pancreatic fistulas. Notably, benefits were enhanced for patients with preoperative biliary drainage. These findings suggest that bs-ab could serve as the new standard for antibiotic prophylaxis in pancreatoduodenectomy.