Intra-abdominal infection

• Peritonitis
• Liver abscess

Management

• Source control (either surgical or by interventional radiology) is the primary treatment modality, along with adjunctive antibiotics
  • Abscesses less than 3 to 6 cm may be treatable with medication alone, without drainage
• For uncomplicated infections or infections with good source control, 3 to 5 days of antibiotics following source control is reasonable
• Consider empiric coverage for Candida with nosocomial infections, particularly in patients with recent abdominal surgery or anastomotic leak

Further Reading

• Canadian practice guidelines for surgical intra-abdominal infections. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2010;21(1):11–37.
• The management of intra-abdominal infections from a global perspective: 2017 WSES guidelines for management of intraabdominal infections. World J Emerg Surg. 2017;12:29. doi: 10.1186/s13017-017-0141-6