In 1989, a survey on perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was conducted in 2,739 surgical (general surgical, orthopedic, traumatologic, and cardiothoracic) departments of German hospitals. In all, 889 (32.5%) questionnaries were returned. Regarding the choice of antibiotic and the duration of prophylaxis the respective rates of correct statements were as follows: 32.6% and 55.0% in gastric surgery, 29.5% and 42.9% in colorectal surgery, 38.3% and 50.5% in biliary tract surgery, 81.0% and 41.0% in total hip replacement, 91.3% and 0% in heart valve replacement, and 95.7% and 0% in coronary artery bypass graft. Altogether, the choice of antibiotic and the duration of prophylaxis were correct in only 49.1% and 43.3%, respectively.