Aim of the work: surgical site infections are the second most common cause of hospital acquired infections and happens in 10%–30% of all patients undertaking gastrointestinal surgery. They are more likely to be admitted in critical care unit and have five times higher mortality than those patients without surgical site infections. Prophylactic use of antimicrobials and other preparations before surgery have shown significant reduction in infectious complication. After surgery the treatment of postoperative bacterial or fungal infections comprises cause control, antimicrobial cure, supportive and adjunctive approaches with the help of various types of antimicrobials. Methodology: we conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, from February 1986 to April 2017. The following search terms were used: perioperative surgical complications, post-operative infection after gastrointestinal surgery, antibiotics used in gastrointestinal surgery, MRSA in gastrointestinal surgery. This study aimed to explore the prevalence, prophylaxis and management of perioperative gastrointestinal infections and study about the types of antibiotics used for such management. Conclusion: better ways of post-operative management of infections must be studied such that the recommend use of antibiotics have full or specific coverage of pathogens and have minimal adverse effects