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Evidence summaries

Antibiotics for Prevention of Postoperative Infection after Appendicectomy

Prophylactic antibiotics decrease the rate of wound infections and intra-abdominal abscesses in patients with surgically treated appendicitis. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 45 studies with a total of 9 576 subjects. The use of antibiotics was superior to placebo for preventing wound infection and intraabdominal abscess, with no apparent difference in the nature of the removed appendix. Studies exclusively on children and studies examining topical application reported results in favour to the use of antibiotics, although the results were not significant.

References

  • Andersen BR, Kallehave FL, Andersen HK. Antibiotics versus placebo for prevention of postoperative infection after appendicectomy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005 Jul 20;(3):CD001439. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords