<bold>The aim of the study</bold> was to determine the efficiency of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical patients.
<bold>Material and methods.</bold> During the period between January and December, 2005, eight surgical Departments were subject to investigation, considering surgical wound infections following selected procedures: 3 orthopedic departments, 3 general surgery departments, and two vascular surgery departments. Based on obtained results the following parameters concerning perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis were evaluated: was the procedure performed with antibiotic prophylaxis?; type of chemotherapeutic agent used, and duration of prophylaxis.
<bold>Results.</bold> Inguinal hernia repair procedures were most often performed without antibiotic (33% of procedures). The statistically significant higher incidence index of surgical wound infections was confirmed in case of cholecystectomy without (18.8 vs 2%). In case of vascular procedures cefuroxime was used in 8 doses. In case of hip or knee joint endoprosthesis surgery cefazolin was administered in five doses. In 70% of cholecystectomy and hernial repair procedures one dose of cefazolin was used. Considering colorectal operations the following antibiotics were used: 6 doses of cefazolin in 36% of cases, and 8 doses of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid. Twenty-five percent of colorectal procedures required the administration of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and metronidazol
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> Analysis demonstrated that in spite of the many guidelines elaborated by scientific associations concerning perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, the above-mentioned are rarely administered according to clinical practice.