Clinical evaluation of intravenous ampicillin as empirical antimicrobial treatment of acute epiglottitis.

INTRODUCTION: The significant pathogens in acute epiglottitis (AE) are poorly defined in the post Haemophilus influenza type b-vaccine era. Furthermore, there is a lack of clinical evaluations of antibiotic regimens in patients with AE. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of empiric intravenous ampicillin in the treatment of patients with AE.

MATERIALS & METHODS: All patients admitted with AE to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, from 2001 to 2015 were included.

RESULTS: In total, 103 (51 males) patients were included in the study. The median duration of hospitalization was four days. There was no statistical significant difference between patients initially treated with intravenous ampicillin (n = 83) or other antibiotics (n = 20) (p = .26). The antibiotic regimen was altered during admission in 11% of patients, without significant difference between antibiotic groups (ampicillin 10% vs non-ampicillin 15%, p = .44). Complications potentially related to insufficient antibiotic treatment were observed in four (5%) patients initially treated with ampicillin, but in none of the patients initially treated with antibiotics other than ampicillin (p = 1.00). Throat swab cultures and blood cultures frequently yielded negative results.

CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous ampicillin is efficient as empiric antibiotic therapy for AE patients, leading to a quick recovery and low complication rates.