Infection after ERCP, and antibiotic prophylaxis: a sequential quality-improvement approach over 11 years.
BACKGROUND
Infection is a known complication of ERCP procedures, and the role of antibiotic prophylaxis is uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
To document the incidence of infection after ERCP while changing the policy for antibiotic prophylaxis.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively on infection complications, with progressive reduction in the use of prophylactic antibiotics.


METHODS
Single-center university referral hospital.


METHODS
A total of 11,484 ERCP procedures were documented prospectively over a period of 11 years.


METHODS
After baseline assessment, the use of prophylactic antibiotics was sequentially reduced and simplified in 3 phases.


METHODS
Incidence of infection, categorized by severity.


RESULTS
The infection rate was low overall and decreased significantly with time, from 0.48% to 0.25%, despite a marked reduction in the proportion of patients given antibiotics (from 95% to 25%). Multivariate analysis also showed that the only category of patients at increased risk for infection (despite antibiotics) was the subgroup undergoing interventions for biliary problems after liver transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
A lack of routine follow-up may mean that some delayed infectious complications were not recorded. The low risk of infection in this series may reflect the high technical success rate for relief of biliary obstruction; thus, our current minimalist antibiotic policy may not be generalizable to community practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Infectious complications of ERCP can be kept to a minimum with a limited use of prophylactic antibiotics.
Digestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
Peter B
PB
Cotton
Patrick
P
Connor
Elaine
E
Rawls
Joseph
J
Romagnuolo
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents