The role of antibiotic prophylaxis in prevention of wound infection after Lichtenstein open mesh repair of primary inguinal hernia: a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether the use of prophylactic antibiotics is effective in the prevention of postoperative wound infection after Lichtenstein open mesh inguinal hernia repair.

Summary Background Data: A recent Cochrane meta-analysis (2003) concluded that "antibiotic prophylaxis for elective inguinal hernia repair cannot be firmly recommended or discarded."

Methods: Patients with a primary inguinal hernia scheduled for Lichtenstein repair were randomized to a preoperative single dose of 1.