Abstract
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the predictive factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) in elective colorectal cancer surgery and the role of antimicrobial stewardship (AS) pharmacists in modifying the clinical pathway. MAIN BODY: Between February 2017 and January 2022, 414 elective colorectal cancer surgeries were performed. The results of multivariate analysis by SSI incidence were adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22-0.96 (P = 0.039) for sex (female), aOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.13-0.58 (P < 0.001) for laparoscopy, aOR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.19-0.91 (P = 0.029) for chemical bowel preparation. The median (interquartile range) postoperative length of stay was 12 (10.0-18.5) vs. 10 (9.0-13.0) days before and after the clinical pathway was modified (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The role of AS pharmacists was primarily to conduct a literature search to explore whether SSIs could be ameliorated by pharmacotherapy, coordinate the addition of chemical bowel preparation, and epidemiologically confirm their effectiveness.