Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Eastern Health

Bowel Perforation Duration of Therapy

Recommended Duration

No more than 24 hours post-operatively

Excluded Patients

Patients not operated on within 12 hours of perforation

Proximal GI Perforation

Additional Notes

  • The data supporting shorter course therapy (essentially peri-operative only) is well supported with a systematic literature review classifying the evidence as grade 1A in community- associated bowel perforations

  • 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