Highly dispersed nanoporous Au rods have been prepared from arc melted Ag70Au30 alloy using site-selective electrochemical potential controlled dealloying method followed by Au anodizing process. Microstructure studies indicate selective removal of Ag results in bi-continuous 3D network structures with uniform pores and Au ligaments of 6 nm. Optical studies show two absorption bands peaking at 477 and 546 nm, overlapping at 520 nm. Agar well diffusion tests reveal significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This study provides insights into designing nanoporous Au rods with antimicrobial efficacy for biomedical applications.