Pattern of Antibiotic Therapy and Clinical Outcome in Acute Generalized Peritonitis in Semi-Urban and Rural Nigerians

Vol. 52, No. 2, 2006

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 71 KB)

Clinical Study

Pattern of Antibiotic Therapy and Clinical Outcome in Acute Generalized Peritonitis in Semi-Urban and Rural Nigerians
A.R.K. Adesunkanmi, T.A. Badmus

Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Address of Corresponding Author

Chemotherapy 2006;52:69-72 (DOI: 10.1159/000092370)

Key Words

Antibiotics
Acute abdomen
Peritonitis
Developing countries

Abstract

To determine the pattern of antibiotic therapy and clinical outcome a prospective survey of all patients operated on for acute generalized peritonitis was undertaken. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1, and the mean age was 27.6 ± 18.3 years. Operative findings were typhoid ilea perforation in 75 (38.1%), complicated acute intestinal obstruction in 44 (22.3%), complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis in 34 (17.3%), peptic ulcer perforation in 18 (9%) and traumatic intestinal injury in 11 (5.6%), representing the majority of the patients. A combination of chloramphenicol, gentamicin and metronidazole was given to 80 (40.6%), ampiclox, gentamicin and metronidazole to 72 (36.5%), ampiclox and gentamicin to 21 (10.6%) and other combinations to 5. A single antibiotic was administered in 13 (6.6%), that is clavulanate-amoxicillin, ampiclox, and cefuroxime. Antibiotics were changed in 37 patients (18.8%): to amoxicillin-clavulanate in 13, cefuroxime in 11, ceftriazone in 7, cefuroxime and metronidazole in 4 and amoxicillin-clavulanate and metronidazole in 2 patients. Postoperative complications were mainly wound infection in 105 (42.6%), wound dehiscence in 33 (16.7%), residual intra-abdominal sepsis in 19 (9.6%), residual intra-abdominal abscess in 17 (8.6%), postoperative chest infection in 14 (7%), incisional hernia in 11 (5.6%), anaemia in 6, faecal fistula in 5 and there was a mortality of 15.7%.

Author Contacts

Dr. A.R.K. Adesunkanmi
Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife (Nigeria)
Tel. +234 80 37 215852, E-Mail adesunkanmi@yahoo.com

Article Information

Presented at the 1st World Conference on Magic Bullets - EHRLICH 2004, Nürnberg, Germany, September 9-11, 2004.

Received: October 22, 2004
Accepted after revision: June 20, 2005
Published online: March 27, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 6

Medline Abstract (ID 16567939)

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