TABLE 6.

Antimicrobial agents for empirical therapy of community-acquired surgical intra-abdominal infections with low to moderate severity (APACHE II score lower than 15)

Monotherapy

Cefoxitin 2 g IV q6h

Ticarcillin-clavulanate 3 g/0.1 g IV q4–6h →Amoxicillin-clavulanate 500 mg/125 mg PO q8h

Ertapenem 1 g IV once daily*

Moxifloxacin 400 mg IV→PO once daily*

Tigecycline 100 mg IV loading, then 50 mg IV q12h

Combination

Second- or third-generation cephalosporin (cefuroxime 1.5 g IV q8h, cefotaxime 1.5 g IV q8h or ceftriaxone 1–2 g IV once daily*) plus metronidazole 500 mg IV→PO q8h

Ciprofloxacin 200 mg IV q12h→500 mg PO q12h plus metronidazole 500 mg IV→PO q8h

^*Suitable for home or outpatient intravenous (IV) therapy. Exact dosing may require modification based on renal and/or hepatic function. IV→PO IV to oral sequential therapy; q Every