Lay summary
The aim of this research is to see whether administration of perioperative probiotics or synbiotics results in reduced postoperative infection rates amongst patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Colorectal disease, such as colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, is common in New Zealand and surgery is a mainstay of treatment. Postoperative infection is a common complication following colorectal surgery and leads to adverse short and long term outcomes for patients. There is increasing evidence to suggest that the gut microbiome plays a large role in postoperative infections following colorectal surgery. This research seeks to understand and temporarily alter the gut microbiome of patients by using probiotics or synbiotics as a low cost and safe intervention.