Patients with Intrabdominal Infection in the Intensive Care Unit

Patients with intraabdominal infection in the intensive care unit represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, both in Cuba and worldwide. Such condition is responsible for the increase in the period of temporary disability and mortality in part of the patients. The aim of the article was to deepen the current knowledge on treatment of intraabdominal infection in the intensive care unit. An exploratory-descriptive review was carried out to deepen the subject and primary and secondary sources of information were consulted from the Scopus, Medline, Cochrane, Hinary and Redalyc databases, following the criteria of their reviewers. Intraabdominal infection in patients under intensive care presents poor prognosis, which requires prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. Mortality rates in these patients have barely decreased despite technological advances. (author)