The aim of the study: Properly selected antibiotics is a necessary part of treatment of biliary tract infections. The main goal of this prospective multicentric study was the assessment of biliary tract infection treatment by cefoperazone. The way of administration, clinical efficiacy and mortality was studied. Simultaneously, bacteriological investigation was carried out and influence of risk factors on the course of management was assessed. Methods: Patients suffered from acute cholecystitis, cholangitis and/or concomitant acute pancreatitis, liver absces or intraabdominal infections were treated by cefoperazone in case it was selected as a antibiotic of choice. These patients were followed-up prospectivelly according to uniform protocol. The follow-up and data collection from intensive care units and general surgical and medicine wards in Czech republic was carried out. Bacteriology investigation included the estimation of aetiologic bacterial agents and assessment of its elimination, persistence or superinfection. The protocols were processed by independent statistical subject. Results: Protocols of 212 patients from 30 hospital units were evaluated. The average age of this group of patients was 61 years. Women prevailed (54.2%). Cefoperazone was given as a drug of a first choice in 86.8% patients and as a second choice in 13.2%. The average time of treatment was 7 days. The most common way of drug administration was 2 g cefoperazone intravenously given every 12 hours. The sufficient clinical efficiacy was seen in 90%.The lowest clinical efficiacy (72%) was seen in patients with acute pancreatitis. The high efficiacy in acute cholecystitis (99%) and acute cholangitis (89%) was seen. Aetiological agent was proved in 22% of treated patients and Enterobacteriaceaes prevailed. In these patients the elimination of aetiological agent was proved in 93.1%. Total mortality was 3.3%. The highest mortality in patients suffering from fiver absces (14.3%) was seen. In a group of acute pancreatitis two patients had died (6.3%). Mortality in patients suffering from acute cholangitis was 3.7%. No patient suffering from acute cholecystitis had died. The course of the management and clinical efficiacy was influenced significantly by simultaneously passing serious associated disease and necessity of surgical or radiological intervention. Conclusions: This study of biliary tract infections treated by cefoperazone proved its very good clinical and bacteriology efficiacy, safety and simplicity of administration. Cefoperazone can be appreciated as a useful initial antibiotic treatment of patients suffering from biliary tract infection. Key words: biliary tract infection — cefoperazone — multicentric study

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