Intra-abdominal abscess

Patients with IAA carry a mortality risk that is usually related directly to the etiology of the abscess. A patient with severe infected pancreatitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome certainly has a higher mortality than a patient with a small appendiceal abscess. Usually patients who require surgical drainage have higher morbidity and mortality. The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms as a source of intra-abdominal infection also increases morbidity and possibly mortality. Mortality depends on initiating early appropriate treatment to restore fluid and electrolyte imbalances, supporting the function of vital organs, providing appropriate broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, and adequately controlling the source.

Importance of early appropriate antibiotic therapy and mortality

Studies have identified that the initiation of early appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy is associated with improved outcome and reduced mortality in intra-abdominal infections.[58]Bare M, Castells X, Garcia A, et al. Importance of appropriateness of empiric antibiotic therapy on clinical outcomes in intra-abdominal infections. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2006 Spring;22(2):242-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16571200?tool=bestpractice.com