Community-acquired intra-abdominal infections in adults

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are among the most frequent non-traumatic surgical emergencies. After pulmonary infections they are the second most common cause of septic shock and the leading non-traumatic cause of death in emergency surgery departments. They are characterized by the extreme heterogeneity of their clinical presentations which range from simple acute appendicitis to severe generalized peritonitis associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches differ depending on the type of infection and the severity of the initial clinical picture. The management of AII must always be early and multidisciplinary. This document is intended for the various medical specialties involved in the management of these infections. Surgeons anaesthetists and infectiologists in training (residents or specialists) will find here an update on the microbiological clinical and therapeutic aspects of these infections. The infectiologist's point of view is well developed in this book to promote the proper use of antibiotics and combat antibiotic resistance.