This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Prophylactic antibiotics (appendicectomy)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

If the diagnosis is suspected appendicitis, the patient should be given broad-spectrum antibiotics. Many agents have been tried:

  • cephalosporin and metronidazole:
    • widely favoured
    • metronidazole suppository can be given with pre-medication e.g. 1g adults or 500mg children
  • ampicillin and clavulanic acid
  • cefoxitin
  • aminoglycoside and metronidazole or clindamycin

The timing of prophylaxis is vital. It should be given at induction. The duration of therapy is dependent on the operative findings. Generally, only a couple of doses of antibiotics are necessary for early, uncomplicated appendicitis. Those with a perforated or necrotic appendix or an appendix mass should be given a more prolonged course e.g. 7-10 days.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.