Coordinating antibiotics around appendix surgery to reduce infections and resistance
Precision coordination of therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotics to reduce infection, toxicity, and emergence of resistance following acute abdominal surgery
Testing whether better timing and pairing of antibiotics around appendectomy can help people having emergency appendix surgery avoid infections, drug side effects, and resistant bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145189 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have an appendectomy, this project looks at how antibiotics given earlier in the emergency department and antibiotics given right before surgery interact and protect the belly from infection. The team will measure antibiotic levels in blood and tissue, track surgical site infections and abscesses, and monitor side effects and the development of resistant bacteria. They plan to compare different antibiotic timing and dosing strategies to find schedules that give good protection at the moment the appendix is cut while avoiding unnecessary extra antibiotics. Participation may involve blood or tissue sampling and follow-up visits after surgery to check for infections and antibiotic-related problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People presenting with acute appendicitis who are scheduled for appendectomy, especially those who receive antibiotics in the emergency department before surgery, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients managed without surgery (treated only with antibiotics), those with late-stage or heavily perforated disease not addressed by this protocol, or people treated at nonparticipating hospitals may not receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce post-appendectomy infections, lower antibiotic side effects, and slow the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have performed: There is limited prior evidence and no consensus on blending therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotics in this setting, so this coordinated-timing approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pai, Manjunath P — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Pai, Manjunath P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.