Study of bacterial flora and their antibiotic sensitivity in peritonitis of various causes

Abstract

Background: Peritonitis is a common emergency encountered by surgeons the world over. Despite a better understanding of pathophysiology, advances in diagnosis, surgery, antimicrobial therapy and intensive care support, peritonitis remains a potentially fatal affliction. Intra-abdominal sepsis is important causes of mortality and morbidity. The treatment is based on rapid fluid resuscitation, initiation of antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention. The antibiotic chosen must cover the most frequently expected bacterial species depending upon the site of perforation. Objectives of the study was done to identify the type of organism present in bowel perforation and their sensitivity pattern to different antibiotics. A guideline will be framed for advising antibiotics to be used for different kinds of perforation.Methods: This was a prospective study of one year on 50 patients of secondary peritonitis due to bowel perforation, conducted in Amaltas institute of Medical Sciences, Dewas.Results: This study included 50 patients with an average age of 36 years (range: 3 days-75 years). There were 40 males and 10 females. The mean duration of hospitalization was 10.6 days (range: 3-25 days) with predominant site of perforation was ileum. E. coli emerged as main pathogenic microbe even in site specific culture, was closely followed by Klebsiella. A combination of third generation cephalosporins with sulbactam and metronidazole has been the most promising therapy to treat secondary bacterial peritonitis due to bowel perforation. It needs to be emphasized that although the sensitivity studies reveal an edge for meropenem over cefaperazone sulbactam, yet the preference of cephalosporin with sulbactam over meropenem is justified, considering the economic constraints and with a suitable foresight, to keep meropenem as a reserve drug because trends indicate that our microbes are fast becoming resistant to the promising combination of third generation cephalosporin with sulbactam and metronidazole.Conclusions: This study suggests that the current recommended empirical antibiotics need to be reassessed.