Treatment of pancreatitis. When do antibiotics have a role?
Byrne, J.J.; Treadwell, T.L.
Postgraduate Medicine 85(4): 333-4 337-9
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-5481 PMID: 2648361 Document Number: 345136
Experimental and clinical data on the use of antibiotics in treatment of pancreatitis vary widely, depending on the cause of the disease. Antibiotics have little effect on alcoholic or idiopathic pancreatitis, but they play a major role in treatment of bacterial infections in gallstone pancreatitis. Some antibiotics are effective in necrotizing pancreatitis; however, surgery and extensive debridement are often necessary when abscess is present or multiple-organ failure occurs.