Leukocytosis at termination of antibiotic therapy: its importance for intra-abdominal sepsis.

Postoperative outcomes of 31 afebrile patients who had responded to treatment for intra-abdominal sepsis were compared based on the presence or absence of leukocytosis (WBC count greater than 10,000/cu mm) at the conclusion of antibiotic therapy. In 68% of the patients who had leukocytosis, postoperative septic complications developed within two months of their operation. In patients without leukocytosis, complications developed in only 8.3%. Afebrile patients who exhibit leukocytosis but have responded clinically to treatment are at risk for postoperative infection and multisystem failure.