ABSTRACT
The principles of management of the patient initially seen with an intra-abdominal
infection include providing: (1) resuscitation, (2) nutritional and metabolic support, (3)
broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy directed against a polymicrobial bacterial flora, and
(4) surgical or radiologic intervention to treat the underlying pathology. This chapter
reviews the host response to infection in the peritoneal cavity and describes an approach
to the management of both bacterial peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses.
