Intra-abdominal sepsis

Initially, intra-abdominal contamination with endogenous bacteria produces peritonitis and septicemia. If the infection is localized and the patient survives, the late phase is usually abscess formation. Treatment consists of prompt, thorough surgical drainage, with repair of the diseased or traumatized viscera, as well as the use of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative antibiotics aimed at both aerobic and anaerobic infecting microflora.