title: Leukocytosis at termination of antibiotic therapy: its importance for intra-abdominal sepsis.
abstract: Postoperative outcomes of 31 afebrile patients who had responded to treatment for intra-abdominal sepsis were compared based on the presence or absence of leukocytosis (WBC count greater than 10,000/cu mm) at the conclusion of antibiotic therapy. In 68% of the patients who had leukocytosis, postoperative septic complications developed within two months of their operation. In patients without leukocytosis, complications developed in only 8.3%. Afebrile patients who exhibit leukocytosis but have responded clinically to treatment are at risk for postoperative infection and multisystem failure.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012306:Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents