LAUSR

BACKGROUND Use of antibiotics in selected cases of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) has recently been questioned. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of treatment regimens without antibiotics compared to that of traditional treatments with antibiotics in selected patients with AUD. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. METHODS A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines by searching through Medline, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library for randomised clinical trials (RCT) published before December 2022. The outcomes assessed were the rates of readmission, change in strategy, emergency surgery, worsening and persistent diverticulitis. STUDY SELECTION RCT on treating AUD without antibiotics published in English before December 2022 were included. INTERVENTION Treatments without antibiotics were compared to treatments with antibiotics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The outcomes assessed were the rates of readmission, change in strategy, emergency surgery, worsening and persistent diverticulitis. RESULTS The search yielded 1163 studies. Four RCT with 1809 patients were included in the review. Among these patients, 50.1% were treated conservatively without antibiotics. The meta-analysis showed no significant differences between non-antibiotic and antibiotic treatment groups with respect to rates of readmission (OR =1.39; 95%CI 0.93-2.06; P=0.11; I2=0%), change in strategy (OR =1.03; 95%CI 0.52-2,02; P=0.94; I2=44%), emergency surgery (OR =0.43; 95%CI 0.12-1.53; P=0.19; I2=0%), worsening (OR =0.91; 95%CI 0.48-1.73; P=0.78; I2=0%) and persistent diverticulitis (OR =1.54; 95%CI 0.63-3.26; P=0.26; I2=0%). LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity and limited number of randomised clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS Treatment for AUD without antibiotic therapy is safe and effective in selected patients. Further RTCs should confirm the present findings.