Researchers analyzed 13 previous studies involving 3,251 patients who had surgery for complicated appendicitis. They compared giving antibiotics for less than 3 days after surgery (short-course) to giving them for longer periods (long-course). The goal was to see if shorter antibiotic use was as safe and effective.
The analysis found no significant increase in the risk of surgical site infections or abdominal abscesses when using the shorter antibiotic course. Patients receiving shorter courses also tended to have shorter hospital stays. The studies included were a mix of randomized trials and observational studies.
It's important to note that the quality of this evidence was rated as low to moderate. This means we can't be completely confident in the results yet. The findings suggest shorter antibiotic courses might be a reasonable option, but doctors should consider individual patient factors. More high-quality research is needed before this becomes standard practice for everyone.