Expert consensus on multidisciplinary management of intra-abdominal infections

Abstract

Intra-abdominal infections(IAIs) are common surgical emergencies and complications, which usually need multidisciplinary management including surgeons, intensivists, infectious disease experts, microbiologists, and clinical pharmacists. Based on international and domestic guidelines and recent advances, a number of experts' statements of consensus, with a problem-oriented approach, were made on the cornerstones of effective treatment of IAIs such as early recognition, etiology identification, adequate source control, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Main recommendations include concepts of intra-abdominal infection, pathoqen diagnosis precautions; surgical intervention principles and strategies of specific causes including acute appendicitis, upper gastrointestinal perforation, lower gastrointestinal perforation, acute biliary infection, liver abscess, severe acute pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, anastomotic leakage, gastrointestinal perforation, as well as perforation due to endoscopic procedure etc.; principles of antimicrobial therapy, dosage of antibiotics in specific population and pathophysiological state; and systematic support of severe infection such as early resuscitation and nutrition support.