Ciprofloxacin and Metronizadole

Hi BecksB,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. My name is Jo and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

I can appreciate that you would like to understand why you have been prescribed different medications prior to your anterior resection surgery.

Both metronidazole and ciprofloxacin are antibiotics which are used for different bacterial infections. The bowel is full of bacteria, so following surgery there is the risk of a wound infection or an infection inside the abdomen. Antibiotics are therefore given before surgery as a precaution to help prevent, rather than treat, an infection.

Simeticone (infacol) is an anti-flatulent which can be used to treat flatulence (farting), trapped wind and bloating which can occur after an anterior bowel resection. Unless these are symptoms that you are currently experiencing, it would be difficult for us to know why this has been prescribed for you to take before your operation. It would therefore be a good idea to speak to your hospital team about this.

Here is some further information about preparing for surgery that you might find useful. There is also information and support available through our bowel (colon and rectum) cancer forum and the charity Bowel Cancer UK.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch. You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Best wishes,

Jo

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref/PW