[Reduced risk of complications associated with severe acute (necrotizing) pancreatitis by administration of antibiotics; results from a literature review].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of antibiotics in patients with acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
Literature review.


METHODS
A Medline search for randomised clinical trials (RCTs) during the period 1990-1999 was carried out using the key words 'pancreatitis', 'acute' and 'antibiotics'. Outcome measures were pancreas-related infection, sepsis and death.


RESULTS
Four RCTs were identified. Control groups were not given antibiotics. Based on the pooled data, the differences in risk in favour of the groups treated with various antibiotics were as follows: -14% (95% CI: -26(-)-1; p = 0.04) for pancreas infections, -25% (95% CI: -39(-)-12; p = 0.0002) for sepsis and -13% (95%-BI: -22(-)-3; p = 0.007) for death.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of antibiotics to patients with severe acute (necrotising) pancreatitis reduces the risk of serious complications.
Bosscha
K
K
Afd. Chirurgie, Universitair Medisch Centrum, Postbus 85.500, 3508 GA Utrecht. kbosscha@chir.azu.nl
Vos
A
A
Visser
M R
MR
Berger
P
P
van Dullemen
H
H
Ploeg
R J
RJ
Gooszen
H G
HG
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents