Prophylactic antibiotics and pancreatic necrosis

[Selection and use of anti-infective agents for intra-abdominal infections]

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal infections are common and are associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. The microorganisms that cause intra-abdominal infections are usually from the gastrointestinal flora, mainly E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis.

AIM

To present a review of the selection and use of antibiotics in intra-abdominal infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Appropriate use of antibiotics is essential to control infection and to reduce treatment failure. Antibiotics are initiated whenever intra-abdominal infection is suspected and the antimicrobial agents are selected based on the most common microorganisms involved. In addition, efficacy, cost, safety, and posologic regimen are considered for an appropriated selection. Antibiotic regimen is different whether the infection is acquired in the community or at hospital due to the more resistant flora in the latter.

Early antibiotic treatment (prophylaxis) of septic complications in severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study comparing two regimens with imipenem-cilastatin

OBJECTIVE

We compared two imipenem regimens for prevention of septic complications in patients with severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective, randomized open clinical trial involving intensive care units of 14 Spanish Hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

92 patients with ANP.

INTERVENTIONS

Imipenem/cilastatin was administered at 500 mg four times daily starting at the time of diagnosis of ANP, within the first 96 h from the onset of symptoms. Patients were randomized to receive antibiotic prophylaxis either for 14 days (group 1) or at least for 14 days and as long as major systemic complications of the disease persisted (group 2).

RESULTS

Antibiotic was maintained in group 2 for 19.7+/-10.9 days. The incidence of infected pancreatic necrosis, pancreatic abscess, and extrapancreatic infections was 11%, 17%, and 28% in group 1 and 17.4%, 13%, and 35% in group 2 (n.s.). Pancreatic or extrapancreatic infection by Candida albicans occurred in 7% and 22% of patients. Global mortality was 18.5% (10.9% secondary to septic complications), without differences between groups. In patients with persisting systemic complications at day 14 mortality was almost always secondary to septic complications and decreased from 25% (group 1) to 8.8% (group 2) by maintaining antibiotic prophylaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to a 14-day imipenem prophylaxis, a longer antibiotic administration in patients with ANP is not associated with a reduction in the incidence of septic complications of the disease. However, prolonged imipenem administration in patients with persisting systemic complications tends to reduce mortality in ANP compared to a 14-days regimen.

Pancreatic sepsis: prevention and therapy

Except for a minority of early fatalities, most deaths in acute pancreatitis occur after the first 7 to 10 days due to infective complications, particularly infected necrosis. Hence, preventing this risk factor seems to represent a major step forward in the clinical management of severe pancreatitis. Consequently, antibiotics emerged as a cornerstone of the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis. The duration of such treatment, the route of administration and the substance(s) of choice need to be carefully selected. Surgical debridement is the treatment of choice of infected necrosis, while percutaneous drainage is successful in some patients.