Acute Diverticulitis
Antimicrobial prescribing: NHS Grampian, Orkney & Shetland
Warning
What's new / Latest updates
Updated to include information on when antibiotics are indicated and first line antibiotic choice.
CKS – see criteria for admission
For people with acute diverticulitis who are systemically well;
- Consider a no antibiotic prescribing strategy
- Offer simple analgesia, for example paracetamol
- Advise the person to re-present if symptoms persist or worsen
Only offer an oral antibiotic to a person with acute diverticulitis if they are systemically unwell but do not meet the CKS criteria for referral for suspected complicated acute diverticulitis.
Drug details
Adults: First line
Co-trimoxazole 960mg twice daily for 5 days
+
Metronidazole 400mg three times daily for 5 days
Note: Co-trimoxazole is unlicensed for this indication but has been successfully used in Grampian for this indication for many years.
Children
Seek specialist advice