# Antibiotics Use in the Treatment of Patients With Appendicitis in Three Hospitals in Taif City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study

## TL;DR

This study examines antibiotic use in treating appendicitis in Saudi hospitals and finds that postoperative antibiotics are commonly used, but preoperative use is low.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into antibiotic practices for appendicitis in Taif City hospitals and highlights gaps in guideline adherence.

## Key findings

- Surgical interventions were common, with open appendectomy being the most frequent procedure.
- Postoperative antibiotics were administered to 74.5% of patients, primarily Augmentin, with oral administration preferred.
- Low complication rates were observed, with a mean hospital stay of 2.2 days.

## Abstract

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency caused by inflammation and infection of the appendix, yet there is limited consensus on its management despite its widespread prevalence. While surgery remains the standard, the role of antibiotics, particularly in nonoperative management, is increasingly recognized. This study aims to identify the antibiotic regimens for appendicitis in three governmental and military hospitals in Taif City, assess their consistency with international guidelines, review effectiveness, and determine the length of hospital stay for patients following different treatment methods.

Method: A retrospective chart review design was used to analyze the antibiotics regimen used for managing appendicitis and perforated appendicitis among patients of various age groups in Taif City. Data was collected from the medical records of patients admitted to pediatric and adult surgery units from January 2020 to December 2022. SPSS software, version 26.0, was used for descriptive analysis, while inferential statistical tests were used to compare hospital stays.

Results: The study analyzed 646 hospital records for patients with appendicitis. Surgical interventions were common, with open appendectomy being the most common procedure, 522 (80.8%). Only 25 (3.9%) patients received preoperative antibiotics, while 481 (74.5%) patients received postoperative antibiotics, mostly Augmentin, with oral administration being preferred in 450 (69.7%) cases. Postoperative outcomes showed low complication rates, with only 54 (8.4%) experiencing surgical-site infections, hernia, and minimal abdominal pain. The mean hospital stay was 2.2 days.

Conclusion: The study suggests that compliance with preoperative antibiotic guidelines should be improved, and nonoperative management options should be discussed in certain patient populations. The focus should be on rational antibiotic usage and patient-oriented treatment methods to maximize appendicitis treatment compared to existing literature.