Outcomes of Different Hospital Discharge Antibiotic Regimens After Perforated Appendectomy.

This article examines postoperative outcomes associated with different hospital discharge antibiotic regimens following laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis in pediatric patients at AdventHealth for Children – Orlando. A retrospective review of 106 patients aged 1 to 17 years compared three groups: no antibiotics at discharge, antibiotics prescribed for 1–7 days, and antibiotics prescribed for more than 8 days. The study found no statistically significant differences among these groups in 30- and 60-day readmission rates, postoperative infections, complications, or re-interventions, though patients discharged with antibiotics had a significantly longer hospital length of stay. These findings suggest that eliminating postoperative antibiotics at discharge may reduce hospital stay and costs without adversely affecting patient outcomes, supporting antibiotic stewardship; however, the authors recommend further prospective, randomized trials to confirm these results.