Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
One-day Workflow Scheme for Bacterial Pathogen Detection and Antimicrobial Resistance Testing from Blood Cultures
Published on: July 9, 2012
Intraoperative cultures during appendectomy in children are poor predictors of pathogens and resistance patterns in
Martin Dahlberg1,2, Markus Almström3,4, Tomas Wester3,4
1Department of Clinical Science and Education, Department of Surgery, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Martin.dahlberg@sll.se.
Background:
Intraoperative cultures are commonly sent in complicated appendicitis. Culture-guided antibiotics used to prevent postoperative infectious complications are debated. In this study, we describe the microbial overlap between intraoperative and abscess cultures, and antibiotic resistance patterns.
Method:
A local register of a children's hospital treating children 0-15 years old with appendicitis between 2006 and 2013 was used to find cases with intraoperative cultures, and cultures from drained or aspirated postoperative intraabdominal abscesses. Culture results, administered antibiotics, their nominal coverage of the identified microorganisms, and rationales given for changes in antibiotic regimens were collected from electronic medical records.
Results:
In 25 of 35 patients who met inclusion criteria, there was no overlap between the intraoperative and abscess cultures. In 33 of 35 patients, all identified intraoperative organisms were covered with postoperative antibiotics. In 14 patients, organisms in the abscess culture were not covered by administered antibiotics. Enterococci not found in the intraoperative culture were found in 12 of 35 abscesses. We found no difference in the antibiotic coverage between rationales given for antibiotic changes.
Conclusion:
The overlap between intraoperative cultures and cultures from subsequent abscesses was small. Lack of antibiotic coverage of intraoperative cultures was not an important factor in abscess formation.
Insights
Intraoperative cultures in children with appendicitis showed little overlap with subsequent abscesses. Antibiotic coverage of intraoperative findings did not appear to prevent abscess formation, suggesting other factors are at play.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Intraoperative cultures are frequently obtained in complicated appendicitis cases.
- The use of culture-guided antibiotics to prevent postoperative infectious complications remains a topic of debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the microbial overlap between intraoperative and postoperative abscess cultures in pediatric appendicitis.
- To analyze antibiotic resistance patterns and coverage in relation to infectious complications.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of pediatric appendicitis cases (0-15 years) from 2006-2013 at a children's hospital.
- Collected data on intraoperative cultures, postoperative abscess cultures, administered antibiotics, and antibiotic regimen changes from electronic medical records.
Main Results:
- A small overlap (28.6%) was observed between intraoperative and abscess cultures.
- In 14 patients, abscess cultures contained organisms not covered by administered antibiotics.
- Enterococci were found in 12 of 35 abscesses but were not identified in initial intraoperative cultures.
Conclusions:
- The microbial concordance between intraoperative and abscess cultures in pediatric appendicitis is limited.
- Inadequate antibiotic coverage of intraoperative findings was not a significant factor in the development of postoperative abscesses.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Plant Tissue Culture
01:23The Role of Culture
01:26Self-Esteem and Culture
01:30Self Within Cultural Contexts
01:21Cell Culture
01:17Stem Cell Culture