Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The main advantages of LC include less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, lower morbidity and mortality, and a lower rate of postoperative infection. The incidence of post-operative infectious complications after LC is significantly lower compared with that of open cholecystectomy. The use of prophylactic antibiotics as a means of preventing surgical site infection (SSIs) is a commonly practiced culture in uncomplicated or complicated elective LC. Many surgeons use and recommend the administration of prophylactic antibiotics . On the contrary, many surgeons believe that antibiotic prophylaxis may not be necessary in low-risk patients undergoing elective LC.  Surgical site infections is a significant postoperative complication which can lead to considerable patient morbidity and mortality. Preventing postoperative infection is an essential component in concluding the results of successful surgical procedures. One approach to prevent postoperative infection is administration of prophylactic antibiotics. The benefits of prophylactic antibiotics is to reduce bacterial contamination during clean-contaminated operations such as elective cholecystectomy.

Even though there are guidelines which don’t recommend antibiotic prophylaxis in elective laparoscopic surgeries , it is not being followed in India due to various reasons like Indian  hospitals are considered to have presumed doubtful sterilization practices , medicolegal issues, possible increase in cost to bear long hospital stay due to any postoperative infectious complications .

The aim of this study is to investigate the necessity of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent postoperative infectious complications in low-risk patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This will help reduce antibiotic resistance, irrational use, and unnecessary burden of cost, apart from promoting Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

 There is no guidelines and minimal literature available on evaluation of role of prophylactic antibiotics in low risk elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in India . The study results on this topic will benefit and contribute as an important quality index to hospitals in India and break the myth of presumed doubtful sterilization practices in Indian hospitals. This will also lead to rational antibiotic practices and promote Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.