CONSIDERATIONS FOR THERAPY OF MIXED INFECTIONS - FOCUS ON INTRAABDOMINAL INFECTION

Intraabdominal infections are a wide range of diseases that include pe netrating abdominal trauma, appendicitis, peritonitis, and abscess. Mo st are polymicrobic, involving aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The pri mary treatment is surgery, but important issues regarding administrati on of antimicrobials may affect patient outcome. Evaluation of an anti microbial regimen must include consideration of outcomes-survival, org an failure, adverse drug effects, and superinfection. Single-agent reg imens have demonstrated benefit in patients with acute intraabdominal contamination and established infections. Guidelines for selecting ant imicrobial agents are available from the Surgical Infection Society. R egimens are effective when active against most bacteria isolated from the focus of abdominal infection. The patient's clinical response, not culture results independent of clinical findings, is the primary guid e for directing changes in therapy.