Intraabdominal infections

Abstract

A century ago, infectious complications severely limited the capacity of surgeons to care for abdominal pathology. Advances in medical care over the past 100 years have made abdominal surgery remarkably safe. There is a sense that even extensive procedures are routine, particularly in patients who do not have major comorbidities. Although we often think that progress has limited infectious complications, the reality is that in 2006 infections are the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients.1-3 © 2008 Springer New York.