Oral metronidazole as antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with nonperforated appendicitis

Optimizing antibiotic management for patients with acute appendicitis: A quality improvement study

BACKGROUND

To decrease surgical site infections after appendectomy for acute appendicitis, preoperative broad-spectrum antibiotics are often used in clinical practice. However, this treatment strategy has come under scrutiny because of increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant infections.

METHODS

The aim of this multisite quality improvement project was to decrease the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis with piperacillin-tazobactam without increasing the rate of surgical site infections. Our quality improvement intervention had 2 distinct components: (1) updating electronic health record orders to encourage preoperative administration of narrow-spectrum antibiotics and (2) educating surgeons and emergency department clinicians about selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy for acute appendicitis. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were compared 6 months before and after implementation of the quality improvement intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 352 laparoscopic appendectomies were performed during the 6-month preintervention period, and 369 were performed during the 6-month postintervention period. The preintervention period and postintervention period groups had similar baseline demographics, vital signs, and laboratory test values. The rate of preoperative piperacillin-tazobactam administration significantly decreased after the intervention (51.4% preintervention period vs 20.1% postintervention period, P < .001). The rate of surgical site infections was similar in both groups (superficial surgical site infections = 1.4% preintervention period vs 0.8% postintervention period, P = .50; deep surgical site infections = 1.1% preintervention period vs 0.0% postintervention period, P = .06; and organ space surgical site infections = 3.1% preintervention period vs 3.0% postintervention period, P > .99). Rates of 30-day readmission, reoperation, and Clostridioides difficile infection also did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

Our quality improvement intervention successfully decreased piperacillin-tazobactam administration without increasing the rate of surgical site infections in patients with acute appendicitis.

Consensus Statement of the Italian Polispecialistic Society of Young Surgeons (SPIGC): Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Appendicitis

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain requiring surgical intervention. Approximately 20% of AA cases are characterized by complications such as gangrene, abscesses, perforation, or diffuse peritonitis, which increase patients' morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of AA can be difficult, and evaluation of clinical signs, laboratory index and imaging should be part of the management of patients with suspicion of AA.Methods: This consensus statement was written in relation to the most recent evidence for diagnosis and treatment of AA, performing a literature review on the most largely adopted scientific sources. The members of the SPIGC (Italian Polispecialistic Society of Young Surgeons) worked jointly to draft it. The recommendations were defined and graded based on the current levels of evidence and in accordance with the criteria adopted by the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) for the strength of the recommendations.Results: Fever and migratory pain tend to be present in patients with suspicion of AA. Laboratory and radiological examinations are commonly employed in the clinical practice, but today also scoring systems based on clinical signs and laboratory data have slowly been adopted for diagnostic purpose. The clinical presentation of AA in children, pregnant and elderly patients can be unusual, leading to more difficult and delayed diagnosis. Surgery is the best option in case of complicated AA, whereas it is not mandatory in case of uncomplicated AA. Laparoscopic surgical treatment is feasible and recommended. Postoperative antibiotic treatment is recommended only in patients with complicated AA.

Antibiotic prescribing in paediatric inpatients in Ghana: a multi-centre point prevalence survey

BACKGROUND

Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitalised patients contributes to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Implementing a stewardship programme to curb the problem requires information on antibiotic use. This study describes a multicentre point prevalence of antibiotic use among paediatric inpatients in Ghana.

METHODS

Data were extracted from a multicentre point prevalence survey of hospital acquired infections in Ghana. Data were collected between September 2016 and December 2016 from ten hospitals through inpatient folder and chart reviews using European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) adapted data collection instrument. From each site, data were collected within a 12-h period (8 am to 8 pm) by a primary team of research investigators and a select group of health professionals from each participating hospital.

RESULTS

Among 716 paediatric inpatients, 506 (70.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 67.2 to 74.0%) were on antibiotics. A significant proportion of antibiotics (82.9%) was prescribed for infants compared to neonates (63.9%) and adolescents (60.0%). The majority of patients (n = 251, 49.6%) were prescribed two antibiotics at the time of the survey. The top five classes of antibiotics prescribed were third generation cephalosporins (n = 154, 18.5%) aminoglycosides (n = 149, 17.9%), second generation cephalosporins (n = 103,12.4%), beta lactam resistant penicillins (n = 83, 10.0%) and nitroimidazoles (n = 82, 9.9%). The majority of antibiotics (n = 508, 61.0%) were prescribed for community acquired infections. The top three agents for managing community acquired infections were ceftriaxone (n = 97, 19.1%), gentamicin (n = 85, 16.7%) and cefuroxime (n = 73, 14.4%).

CONCLUSION

This study points to high use of antibiotics among paediatric inpatients in Ghana. Cephalosporin use may offer an important target for reduction through antibiotic stewardship programmes.

Postoperative antibiotic therapy after appendectomy in patients with non-perforated appendicitis

BACKGROUND

Appendectomy intra-abdominal is the most frequently performed emergency surgery. This study was conducted to determine the role of postoperative antibiotics in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) and abscess formation after open appendectomy.

METHODS

In the Department of Surgery, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Babol, Iran, from October 2013 to October 2014 one hundred and fifty two patients, who underwent appendectomy for nonperforated appendicitis (NPA) and fulfilled the selection criteria, were randomized into two groups. Group A patients received a single dose of preoperative antibiotics (ceftriaxone and metronidazole) and group B patients received the same regimen, in addition, antibiotics were administered 24 hours postoperatively. Patients of both groups were followed-up for 30 days to assess the postoperative infectious complications.

RESULTS

Both groups comprised 76 patients, as well both groups were compared in baseline characteristics. Statistically, there was no significant difference in rates of SSIs between both groups. None of the patients developed intra-abdominal collection.

CONCLUSION

Single dose of preoperative antibiotics (ceftriaxone and metronidazole) was sufficient in reducing SSIs after appendectomy for NPA. Postoperative antibiotics did not add an appreciable clinical benefit in these patients.

The use of pre- or postoperative antibiotics in surgery for appendicitis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding the use of pre- and/or postoperative antibiotics in the management of appendicitis, using data obtained from PubMed and the Cochrane Library.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted using the terms "appendicitis" combined with "antibiotics." Studies were selected based on relevance for the evidence on prophylactic and postoperative treatment with regard to the route and duration of drug administration and the findings of surgery.

RESULTS

Patients with acute appendicitis should receive preoperative, broad-spectrum antibiotics. The use of postoperative antibiotics is only recommended in cases of perforation, and treatment should then be given intravenously, for a minimum period of 3-5 days for adult patients, until clinical signs such as fever resolve and laboratory parameters such as C-reactive protein curve and white blood cell (WBC) start to decline.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in all patients with acute appendicitis, whereas postoperative antibiotics only in cases of perforation.

Metronidazole decreases viability of DLD-1 colorectal cancer cell line

The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of metronidazole (MTZ) on DLD-1 colorectal cancer cell (CRC) line. Toxicity of MTZ was determined by MTT test. Cells were incubated with MTZ used in different concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The effect of MTZ on DNA synthesis was measured as [3H]-thymidine incorporation. The morphological changes in human DLD-1 cell line were defined by transmission electron microscope OPTON 900. The influence of MTZ on the apoptosis of DLD-1 cell lines was detected by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, while cell concentration, volume, and diameter were displayed by Scepter Cell Counter from Millipore. Our results show that cell viability was diminished in all experimental groups in comparison with the control, and the differences were statistically significant. We did not find any significant differences in [3H]-thymidine incorporation in all experimental groups and times of observation. Cytofluorimetric assays demonstrated a statistically significant increase of apoptotic rate in MTZ concentrations 10 and 50 μg/mL after 24 hours; 0.1, 10, 50, and 250 μg/mL after 48 hours; and in all concentrations after 72 hours compared with control groups. In the ultrastructural studies, necrotic or apoptotic cells were occasionally seen. In conclusion, MTZ affects human CRC cell line viability. The reduction of cell viability was consistent with the apoptotic test.