Guidelines
Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis

Pearls

Infected pancreatic necrosis is suggested by percutaneous aspirate or surgical specimen with organisms on gram stain or culture OR CT scan with presence of gas

Pancreatitis is well known to cause leukocytosis, fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, making these traditional markers of infection non-specific for true pancreatic infection

  • Prophylaxis is not recommended 
  • The use of prophylactic antimicrobials does not appear to impact development of infected necrosis (has been shown to increase antimicrobial resistance)
  • 2016 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend against sustained systemic antibiotic prophylaxis