Tazocin is contraindicated with penicillin allergy so be sure to check first
Simple Gastroenteritis
- Due to Salmonella (non typhoid), Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli 0157
- Usually self-limiting and antibiotic treatment is not usually recommended.
- In severe cases contact Consultant Microbiologist. NB Notifiable disease
Parasitic infestation
- Giardiasis and amoebiasis - treat according to the causative agent as in BNF
- There is no treatment for diarrhoea due to Cryptosporidium or Microsporidium spp
Viral gastroenteritis
- Norovirus/rota viruses: self-limiting diseases - rehydration is important
Clostridioides difficile colitis
- First line: Metronidazole 400mg tds PO for 10-14 days
- Second line: Vancomycin 125mg qds PO for 10-14 days
- Discuss all concurrent/future antibiotics with Consultant Microbiologist. Patients are at lifelong risk of recurrent infection.
Helicobacter eradication
- Lansoprazole 30mg bd PO + Clarithromycin 500mg bd PO plus Amoxicillin 1g bd PO 7 days
- Penicillin allergy use Metronidazole 400mg bd PO instead of Amoxicillin
Peritonitis and abdominal sepsis
- Likely causes mixed gut flora.
- Tazocin (US Zosyn) 2.25g IV TDS plus stat Gentamicin IV if patient shocked
- Penicillin allergic: Tigecycline 100mg IV initially then 50mg bd IV
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (In cirrhosis and ascites)
- Likely causes: coliforms, Strep pneumoniae.
- Tazocin (US Zosyn) 2.25g IV TDS Treat for 10-14 days
- Penicillin allergy contact Consultant Microbiologist.
Liver abscess
- Likely causes: coliforms, streptococci, anaerobes, (Entamoeba histolytica, hydatid.)
- Tazocin 2.25g IV TDS unless Penicillin allergy or parasitic infections
- Discuss with Consultant Microbiologist.
- Length of course dependent on many factors including drainage
Cholecystitis
- Likely causes: coliforms. Treat with Tazocin (US Zosyn) 2.25g IV TDS
- Review after 48 hours, consider switch to Co-Amoxiclav 625mg tds PO
- Penicillin allergy discuss with the Consultant Microbiologist.
Empyema of gall bladder
- As in liver abscess (in addition to surgical drainage)
Ascending cholangitis
- Due to mixed gut flora including coliforms and anaerobes
- Tazocin 4.5g tds IV unless Penicillin allergy then discuss with Microbiologist.
- Treat for 7-10 days
Necrotising pancreatitis
- Likely causes: gut flora
- Antibiotics for severe necrotising disease only.
- No advantage in mild/moderate cases
- Tazocin (US Zosyn) 4.5g tds IV or Meropenem 500mg qds IV
- Treat for up to 2 weeks.
- Penicillin allergy discuss with the Consultant Microbiologist.
Diverticulitis
- Likely causes: gut flora. Treat with Metronidazole 500mg tds IV
- Less severe: Metronidazole 400mg tds po for 5 days for total duration
Cirrhosis with acute GI bleeding (with/without ligation)
- Likely causes: gut flora treat with Tazocin (US Zosyn) 2.25g IV TDS for 5 days
- Penicillin allergy discuss with the Consultant