title: Susceptibility of intra-abdominal isolates at operation: a predictor of postoperative infection.
abstract: Antimicrobial resistance of operative site flora was correlated with postoperative infection in 175 patients undergoing operation for intra-abdominal sepsis: Diagnoses for study patients were acute or gangrenous appendicitis in 48 (27%), complicated appendicitis in 98 (56%), perforated viscus other than appendix in 21 (12%), and eight (5%) had other intra-abdominal infections. One hundred thirty-six (78%) patients were males. The average age was 33 +/- 14 years, average number of hospital days was 11.6 +/- 13.5, and average number of days on antibiotics was 6.9 +/- 2.5. Overall recovery without infection was 75 per cent (131/175). Analysis of susceptibility of 939 intraoperative isolates indicated a significant relationship (P = 0.0002) between resistance to the empiric antimicrobials received and postoperative infection. Of 131 patients with resolution of the intra-abdominal infection, 57 (44%) had resistant isolates while 36 (82%) of 44 patients with postoperative infectious complications had resistant isolates. Streptococcus Group D, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides fragilis were the most prevalent resistant organisms isolated from both intra- and postoperative cultures. Other variables that were significantly different between those without complications and those who had complications were, respectively: average age 31 versus 38; admission WBC 14.5 versus 16.7; and diagnosis, acute appendicitis 28 per cent versus 2 per cent. A stepwise logistic regression analysis confirmed the predictive value of intraoperative isolate resistance, age, and admission WBC, in that order, on outcome.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, Dept. of Surgery, Orange 92668.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000382:microbiology; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents