True or False: There is no clear rationale for routine antibiotics in surgical patients unless they are medically compromised.

The statement is accurate because current evidence suggests that routine antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical patients is not necessary unless certain risk factors are present. Most healthy individuals undergoing routine surgical procedures will not benefit from antibiotics, as they do not significantly reduce the risk of post-operative infections in this population. When patients are medically compromised, such as those with underlying health conditions, immunocompromised states, or other factors that increase their risk for surgical site infections, the use of antibiotics may be justified to provide additional protection.

In cases where the surgical procedure itself carries a higher infection risk or involves implant placements, the approach may differ, but for the majority of elective surgeries, the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics is not recommended. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the understanding that antibiotic use should be tailored to the individual patient's medical status rather than applied universally.