A questionnaire survey on antimicrobial chemotherapy for acute peritonitis

: A questionnaire survey on antimicrobial chemotherapy for acute peritonitis was conducted to obtain the consensus among abdominal surgeons in Japan in the period from January to March 2002. Forty-one of the 58 surgeons replied, and the following consensus was obtained. Antibiotics should be given as soon as possible the diagnosis of infection in the abdominal cavity is established. When the perforated viscus is demonstrated at operation, giving antibiotic should be reconfirmed whether it covers organisms in the perforated site or not. The ascites obtained at operation should be sent for bacterial culture. When postoperative course is eventful, considering WBC, body temperature and CRP, the drainage fluid should be sent for culture on 4 to 7 days postoperatively. Most commonly used antibiotic for perforation of duodenal ulcer is cefotiam, and it is given 4.1 +/- 1.2 days postoperatively. Target organisms at the perforation of the lower digestive tract were E. coli, Bacteroides spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. Carbapenems were likely given agents for the perforation of the colon, and they were given 5.0 +/- 1.4 days postoperatively.