S. Jacobs et al., Effect of pentaglobin and piperacillin on survival in a rat model of faecal peritonitis: importance of intervention timings, ACT ANAE SC, 44(1), 2000, pp. 88-95
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Background: Faecal peritonitis is a progressive pathophysiological conditio
n which may lead to multiple organ failure and death The reason for the ass
ociated morbidity and mortality could be attributed to the fact that some o
f the subtle alterations in cellular function that occur during the early s
tage of peritonitis are unidentified and consequently missed, leading to in
adequate or delayed intervention. Recent studies have shown that early trea
tment with antibiotic and antisera containing antibodies to lipopolysacchar
ide (immunoglobulin) improve the survival rate in these patients. The prese
nt investigation was undertaken to study the effect of pentaglobin and pipe
racillin with particular attention to time lag of drug intervention on anim
al survival following experimental peritonitis.
Methods: Experimental peritonitis was produced by inoculating 1 ml/kg of fa
ecal suspension (2:1 w/v in saline) into the peritoneal cavity. Two groups
of animals were treated with pentaglobin (4 ml/kg) or piperacillin (1000 mg
/kg) respectively whereas rats in another group received both drugs simulta
neously. The first dose of each drug was given at 4 h, 6 h, 8 h and 12 h af
ter faecal inoculation followed by 3 additional doses at 8-h intervals. For
biochemical studies, separate groups of animals were used in which the tre
atment was started 4 h after faecal inoculation and the animals were killed
at 12 h after the treatment.
Results: Both piperacillin and pentaglobin prolonged survival time of anima
ls which received the treatment within 6 h of faecal insult. The combinatio
n of pentaglobin plus piperacillin produced better results as compared to t
he individual effect. There was a significant decrease in serum superoxide
dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and increase in catalas
e following faeces-induced septicaemia, suggesting a significant increase i
n oxidative stress. The changes in enzyme levels were significantly attenua
ted by both the drugs.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that intervention with a combination of pe
ntaglobin and antibiotics within 6 h of peritonitis might significantly imp
rove survival rate in rat.