Antimicrobial prescribing in acute pancreatitis: Too much for too many?

Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas that varies widely in both clinical presentation and severity. Current international guidelines do not recommend the use of prophylactic antimicrobials in AP. Aim To review the compliance of antimicrobial prescribing in AP with international guidelines. Method We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted with AP between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2021, in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. For each case identified, the 2012 Revised Atlanta Criteria for AP were then applied on review of medical, laboratory and radiology records. Results There were 98 patients, 52 % male (n = 51) with a median age of 53 years (range 18–88) who met the Revised Atlanta Criteria accounting for 1,032 hospital bed days inclusive of 82 critical care bed days. Gallstones were the most common aetiology; 48 % (n = 47). Antimicrobials were prescribed for 55 (56 %) patients with AP. Of those, only 38 % (n = 21) met the American Gastroenterological Association criteria for antimicrobials. The most common classes of antimicrobials prescribed were beta-lactams and carbapenems. Procalcitonin testing was conducted on just one patient (1 %). There were no cases of inpatient or 90-day mortality. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with previously published reports of low mortality in mild acute AP and an excessive prescription of antimicrobials, highlighting this as an area for a targeted antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) intervention, including an increased use of procalcitonin as a biomarker.