title: [Etiology, epidemiology and microbiological diagnosis of intra-abdominal infections].
abstract: Intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) are commonly encountered in clinical practice. The etiology of these infections, often polymicrobial in nature, can be variable and usually includes organisms derived from the gut microbiota. In community-acquired IAIs enterobacteria predominate (mostly Escherichia coli) in combination with anaerobes (mostly Bacteroides fragilis). In nosocomial IAIs, which can complicate abdominal surgery, other pathogens can also play a role, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp. e Candida spp. Diagnostic microbiology of IAIs is complex and plays a relevant role especially in some situations (e. g. presence of foreign bodies, potential presence of resistant or uncommon pathogens, nosocomial infections in subjects with risk factors). Antibiotic resistance issues are currently encountered in most pathogenic species causing IAIs. Resistance affects all major classes of antimicrobial agents, often involving multiple classes and resulting in complex resistance phenotypes for which only a very limited number of drugs remain active.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Microbiologiche e Scienze Ginecologiche, Universita degli Studi di Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: Gian Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rossolini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefani
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents