Level 1a Evidence Comparing Use of Antibiotics Versus No Antibiotics in Management of Acute Left-Sided Uncomplicated Diverticulitis.

Background: Acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) is a common cause of acute abdominal pain. Recent guidelines advise selective use of antibiotics in AUD patients. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of no antibiotics vs antibiotics in AUD patients.

Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving AUD patients which compared the use of antibiotics with no antibiotics. Pooled outcome data was calculated using random effects modeling with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: 5 RCTs with 1934 AUD patients were included. 979 patients were managed without antibiotics (50.6%). Patients in the no antibiotic and antibiotic groups had comparable demographics (age, sex, and body mass index) and presenting features (temperature, pain score, and C-reactive protein levels). There was no significant difference in rates of complicated diverticulitis (OR: .61, 95% CI: 0.27-1.36, = .23), abscess (OR: .51, 95% CI: .08-3.25, = .47) or fistula (OR: .33, 95% CI: .03-3.15, = .33) formation, perforation (OR: .98, 95% CI: .32-3.07, = .98), recurrence (OR: .96, 95% CI: .66-1.41, = .85), need for surgery (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: .47-3.95, = .37), mortality (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: .14-11.76, = .82), or length of stay (MD: .215, 95% CI: -.43-.73, = .61) between the 2 groups. However, the likelihood of readmission was higher in the antibiotics group (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.43-3.18, = .0002).

Conclusion: There is no significant difference in baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, and adverse health outcomes between AUD patients treated without antibiotics compared to with antibiotics.