ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the impact of traditional and fast bowel preparation on the changes of gut flora in the patients following colorectal resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients undergoing colorectal resection from March 2010 to March 2011 in the Nanfang Hospital were randomly divided into the control group(n=27, 3 days of bowel preparation) and the experimental group(n=33, 1 day of bowel preparation). Fresh feces were collected before bowel preparation and on the first defecation after surgery. The postoperative changes in gut flora and septic complications were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gut flora disturbance was found in both groups. The postoperative population of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus decreased significantly(P<0.05), and the decrease was more significant in the experimental group compared to the control group(P<0.05), while E.coli and Staphylococcus were much higher than the preoperative level(P<0.05), which was more significant in the control group. The incidence of postoperative infection was 9.1%(3/33) in the experimental group, which was significantly lower than 29.6%(8/27) in the control group(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fast bowel preparation is effective in reducing gut flora disturbance and the incidence of postoperative infection.</p>