Results of a Pilot Trial Comparing Prolonged Intravenous Antibiotics With Sequential Intravenous/Oral Antibiotics for Children With Perforated Appendicitis

Abstract
PERFORATED appendicitis is a common condition in children that results in substantial morbidity and cost.1 Treatment for perforated appendicitis generally involves appendectomy followed by a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy, usually administered intravenously (IV), traditionally has involved agents directed at gram-negative and obligate anaerobic bacteria. Common drug regimens for perforated appendicitis in children include triple drug therapy (ampicillin, an aminoglycoside, and an antianaerobic agent), cephalosporins, carbapenems, or β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors.1