Mechanical and antibiotic bowel preparation is a time tested procedure that when done appropriately, significantly reduces the risk of infectious complications of colorectal surgical procedures, surgical site infections, and anastomotic dehiscence. Currently, a 3-tier regimen, which includes preoperative mechanical cleansing to reduce the fecal load, preoperative nonabsorbed oral antimicrobials effective against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and perioperative parenteral antibiotics is most...