Bacteriological Study and Antibiotic Therapy for Peritonitis in Children

Abstract

This paper reports the bacteriological survey data of 119 cases of acute peritonitis in children(1980-1984). The bacteriological cultures showed that 111 samples were positive(93.2%). 110/119samples were aerobic(92.4%), with 154 aerobic strains, mostly Gram negative bacilli and Gram positive cocci, especially E, coli and various streptococcal strains. And 48/69 samples were anaerobic organisms(68.8%)consisring of 68 strains, mostly being Gram negative bacilli, especially bacteroids fragilis. The majority of the cases were mixed infection of aerobic and anaerobic organisms. The isolation rate of anaerobic organisms in perforation of the upper alimentary tract was 25%in ileum, 77% in appendix, and 50% in colon. Aerobic E. coli was sensitive to Aminoglycoside, while anaerobic bacteroids fragilis was sensitive to Metronidazole, Rifampin and Lincomycin. The authors conclude that combination of Ampicillin and Aminoglycoside is the most effective chemotherapy in cases of perforation of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and so is the combination of Aminoglycoside and Metronidazole of Lincomycin in cases of the perforated lower intestinal tract.