title: The treatment of intraabdominal infections in surgery.
abstract: Intraabdominal sepsis is frequently seen following penetrating or blunt abdominal trauma as well as with perforated appendicitis or diverticulitis. The initial leakage of endogenous gastrointestinal microflora into the peritoneal cavity results in peritonitis and secondary septicemia, which often results in a localized intraabdominal abscess. These infections are commonly polymicrobial and correlate directly with the unique endogenous microflora at various levels of the gastrointestinal tract. The successful treatment of intraabdominal sepsis is primarily associated with prompt, appropriate surgical intervention. Parenterally administered antibiotics are also required to decrease the incidence of local bacterial infection or septicemia. The choice of the appropriate agent(s) to be used initially, before obtaining the results of culture and sensitivity tests, depends primarily on both the clinical presentation and on whether the intraabdominal infection occurred in the community or as a result of hospitalization. Clinical and experimental studies of intraabdominal sepsis have primarily emphasized the use of antibiotic agents that have a spectrum of activity effective against aerobic coliforms and the anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents