Procalcitonin as a Marker for the Length of Antibiotic Treatment in Peritonitis and Intra-abdominal Infections

Etude Prospective Sur l'Impact de l'Utilisation de la Procalcitonine Dans l'évaluation de la Poursuite ou de l'arrêt du Traitement Antibiotique Empirique Lors de péritonites et d'Infections Intra-abdominales

Procalcitonin level used for determining length of antibiotic treatment in peritonitis and intra-abdominal infections. Hypothesis is that length of antibiotic use can be shortened by this method.

Prospective randomized trial

Inclusion Criteria:

• More than 18 yo
• Patient requiring surgery for peritonitis or intra-abdominal infection following: perforation, necrosis, previous operation...
• Mannheim Peritonitis score > 14
• SIRS present
• Probability of survival > 72h
• Informed consent by patient/relatives

Exclusion Criteria:

• No SIRS
• Long date corticoid treatment
• Immunosuppression
• Thyroid medullary carcinoma
• Anaphylactic shock
• Acute hepatic deficiency