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Maj Gregory J. Jaffers, MC; Thomas W. Pollock, MD

Arch Surg. 1981;116(7):866-868.

Abstract
• Consecutive records of 608 patients who underwent appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the necessity and usefulness of intraoperative cultures. There were no operative deaths and postoperative infectious morbidity was 6.4%. Positive cultures were only weakly predictive of postoperative infection. Culture results did not influence selection of antibiotics. Routine intraoperative culturing during appendectomy is costly and unnecessary, except in patients at high risk.

(Arch Surg 1981;116:866-868)

Author Affiliations
USAF

From Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Tex (Dr Jaffers) and the Department of Surgery, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY (Dr Pollock).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 30, 1981.

Presented in part at the 28th annual meeting of the Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons, Colorado Springs, Colo, April 16, 1980.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and in no way represent the views of the Department of the Air Force.

Reprints not available.

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