title: [Empirical antibiotic therapy in intra-abdomial infections: cases and evidence-based therapeutic recommendations].
abstract: Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are a common problem in visceral medicine. In Germany more than 150 000 patients are treated each year for IAI with courses ranging from uncomplicated disease to severe life-threatening manifestations. IAI represent the second most common cause of septic shock and the second most common cause of infection-related mortality in intensive care. Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, changes in pathogen spectra and increasing patient co-morbidities, recommendations for empirical antibiotic therapy have to be continuously updated: Whereas inadequate empirical treatment is associated with poor prognosis, unselected broad-spectrum therapy may increase antimicrobial resistances. Illustrated by clinical cases of typical intra-abdominal infections, this article reviews recommendations for antibiotic therapy based on national and international guidelines under consideration of local resistance rates and patient-specific factors to provide a basis for improved therapy of this common problem.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin, Innere Medizin IV, Universitätsklinikum Jena der FSU Jena.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stallmach
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pletz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eckmann
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000592:standards; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents