Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Eastern Health

Complicated IAI Duration of Therapy

Recommended Duration

4 days after adequate source control achieved

Intra-abdominal Infection Management

Shortest Duration

Minimum duration studied without evidence of reduced efficacy

3 days

Excluded Patients

Immunocompromised patients

Additional Notes

  • While the data for more complicated infections are less robust, the recommendation is based on RCT's and has been studied as low as 3 days, with the most robust data for 4 days

  • Duration of therapy for uncontrolled sources is not clear and there is insufficient data to make a recommendation even though there is the suggestion that courses as short as 5 days may be effective

  • Adapted from AMMI Canada Position Statement on the Appropriate Duration of Antimicrobial Therapy (2018)

More Information

References
  1. Mazuski JE et al. The Surgical Infection Society revised guidelines on the management of intraabdominal infection. Surgical Infections, 18:1-76. 2017
  2. Sawyer RG et al. Trial of short-course antimicrobial therapy for intraabdominal infection. New England Journal of Medicine 2015;372:1996-2005
  3. Basoli A et al. A prospective, double-blind, multicenter, randomized trial comparing ertapenem 3 or >or=5 days in community-acquired intraabdominal infection. J Gastrointest Surg 2008;12:592-600