title: Prophylactic antibiotic administration reduces sepsis and mortality in acute necrotizing pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Severe acute pancreatitis is frequently complicated by local and systemic infections resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Antibiotic prophylaxis may prevent some infections. We searched for randomized, controlled trials comparing antibiotic prophylaxis with no prophylaxis in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Only trials that used antibiotics that reach minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in necrotic pancreatic tissue were included. We calculated relative risk reduction (RRR), absolute risk reduction (ARR), and number needed to treat (NNT) for individual trials and pooled data. Antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced sepsis by 21.1% (NNT = 5) and mortality by 12.3% (NNT = 8) compared with no prophylaxis. There was also a nonsignificant trend toward a decrease in local pancreatic infections (ARR = 12%; NNT = 8). Antibiotic prophylaxis decreases sepsis and mortality in patients with ANP. All patients with ANP should be given prophylaxis with an antibiotic with proven efficacy in necrotic pancreatic tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205-7199, USA. Sharmavirenderk@exchange.uams.edu
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Howden
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D006801:Humans; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents