1069 Diverticular Disease: An Audit of Adherence to NICE Guidelines
Abstract Introduction Diverticular disease is a common surgical problem ranging from diverticulosis to uncomplicated diverticulitis to complicated diverticulitis. The NICE Guidelines for diverticular disease recommended that antibiotics should only be given in patients who are systemically unwell, background of immunosuppression or have complicated diverticulitis. We aimed to access the compliance to these guidelines with regards to the use of antibiotics at our local institute. Method This was a retrospective audit reviewing the management of patients with Computed Tomography Scan findings of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis (Hinchey Ia) at the surgical emergency unit at Basildon University Hospital between August 2018 and May 2020. Data obtained included demographic data, presenting symptoms (fever, abdominal pain), haematological investigations (full blood count and c-reactive protein) and use of intravenous/oral antibiotics. Results Twenty patients were included, the M:F ratio was 1:1.9, the age range was between 36-80 years. 13 patients (65%) had left iliac fossa pain as part of their presenting symptom while only three (15%) had pyrexia. Seventeen patients(85%) had NEWS score between 0-1 with 60% of the patients presenting with elevated white blood cell count and 75% with c-reactive protein >5. All our patients were prescribed antibiotics. Conclusions There was no discrimination in the use of antibiotics/admission for uncomplicated diverticulitis as all patients had antibiotics and as such there is need for increased awareness about the guidelines among the surgical team and adherence to the protocol to prevent indiscriminate use of antibiotics.