A Bacteriologic Investigation of the Acute Appendicitis

ABSTRACT

A study on the microbiology of appendiceal tissue or peritoneal fluid was carried out by the authors. A total of 40 specimens were examined, 21 of them(52.5%) were found to be positive, of which 13(61.9%) were polymicrobial and 8(38.1%) were monomicrobial. The most represented species were Escherichia coli (37.8%), Klebsiella (16.2%), Streptococcus (10.8%), and Bacteroides (8.1%). The most active drugs in vitro were found to be aminoglycosides (gentamycin, amikacin, tobramycin) and cefotaxime. The infectious complication developed in 6 patients and consisted of wound infection only. In view of relation of presence or absence of perforation of appendix with infectious complication, 4 of them arose from perforative appendicitis(36.4%) and 2 of them arose from nonperforative appendicitis(6.9%). On the other hand, in view of relation of presence or absence of organism cultured from appendiceal tissue or peritoneal fluid with infectious complication, all of them arose from positive cultures(28.6%) and none arose from negative cultures. The most represented bacterias from wound infection were Escherichia coli(40%) and Bacteroides(20%). Therefore, we suggest that an agent against anaerobes should be recommended when the appendix is perforative.