Ultrasound and CT guided percutaneous drainage of abdominal and extraperitoneal abscesses in selected patients are safe and effective [26–33]. However surgery is the most important therapeutic measure to control intra-abdominal infections. Generally, the choice of the procedure depends on the anatomical source of infection, on the degree of peritoneal

inflammation, on the generalized septic response and on the patient’s general conditions. Surgical source control entails Selleckchem SAHA HDAC resection or suture of a diseased or perforated viscus (e.g. diverticular perforation, gastroduodenal perforation), removal of the infected organ (e.g. appendix, gall bladder), debridement of necrotic tissue or resection of ischemic bowel. In cases of IAI complicated by septic shock, a single operation may not be sufficient to achieve source control, necessitating re-exploration. Three methods of local mechanical management following initial laparotomy for source control are currently debated: open-abdomen, planned re-laparotomy and on-demand re-laparotomy. Following removal of infected tissue, attention should always shift to the restoration of anatomy and functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. Principles of antimicrobial management Antimicrobial therapy plays

an integral role in the management of intra-abdominal infections, especially in critical ill patients where empiric KU-57788 antibiotic therapy must be delivered as early as possible: in fact inadequate antimicrobial therapy is one of the variables most strongly associated to unfavorable outcome [6, 34]. The initial antibiotic therapy for IAIs is always empiric because the patient is often critically ill and microbiological data (culture and susceptibility results) usually take at least 48 hours to become fully available. The decision tree for the antimicrobial management of intra-abdominal infections

depends mainly on three factors: Presumed pathogens involved and risk factors for major resistance patterns Clinical patient’s severity Presumed/identified source of infection. To predict the main pathogens involved and the related resistance patterns, Selleckchem C59 infections are to be classed as community or hospital acquired. During the past 2 decades the incidence of hospital-acquired infection caused by resistant microorganisms has significantly risen, probably in relationship with high level of antibiotic exposure and increasing rate of patients with one or more predisposing conditions such as recent exposure to antibiotics, high severity of illness, advanced age, co-morbidity, degree of organ dysfunction, low albumin level, poor nutritional status, immunodepression and presence of malignancy. The major pathogens involved in community-acquired intra-abdominal infection are Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus spp and anaerobes (especially B. fragilis). Within the healthcare-associated infections, the spectrum of microorganism involved is broader, encompassing not only Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus spp.