This is a prospective randomized study involving 25 centers. Our goal is to demonstrate in the course of postoperative peritonitis that a short antibiotic therapy (8 days) compared to conventional antibiotic treatment (15 days) decreases the duration of exposure to antibiotics over a 28 days period . Patients admitted in ICU, operated for postoperative peritonitis and receiving an adequate antibiotic therapy will be identified and after informed consent is obtained will be randomized to receive a short course of antibiotic therapy (8 days) or a long course of antibiotic therapy (15 days). The primary endpoint is the number of antibiotic-free days at D28 after inclusion (analysis of superiority) . Secondary endpoints include mortality at D45 after inclusion (analysis of equivalence), the occurrence of relapse of infection, success rate of clinically and microbiologically evaluable patients, and emergence of multidrug resistant microorganisms in clinical isolates or hygiene samples. Patient data through day 45 following the initial intervention or until hospital discharge will be tracked.
The investigators purpose is to demonstrate that a short antibiotic therapy (8 days) for postoperative peritonitis brings an increased number of antibiotic-free days over a 28 days period when compared to conventional (15 days) treatment.