Antibiotics in Pancreatitis

presents to the with severe abdominal pain & WBCs. A CT scan shows acute pancreatitis without gas, abscess, or necrosis.

Do they need antibiotics?

How did others respond?

Reveal the answer

Best Answer

No 🚫

Explanation: Antibiotics are NOT typically indicated in acute pancreatitis. Most cases are due to common noninfectious causes like gallstones and alcohol use 🥃🍷

Antibiotics SHOULD be given when there is infected pancreatic necrosis.

Prophylactic antibiotics are NOT EFFECTIVE at preventing progression to pancreatic necrosis & are NOT recommended by guidelines.

A randomized controlled trial found NO DIFFERENCE in progression to pancreatic necrosis between those treated with antibiotics 💊 vs placebo.

Take a timeout before starting antibiotics for pancreatitis ⏸️