Antibiotic use during the first episode of acute perianal sepsis: a still-open question.

Purpose: The role of antibiotics in preventing fistula formation following an initial abscess remains a subject of debate. This study compared the incidence of fistula in ano in patients experiencing their first episode of acute perianal sepsis, with and without antibiotic therapy, and evaluated the prevalence of fistula in ano necessitating surgical intervention at 1 year.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital with a dedicated proctology department.