Abdominal abscessation and peritonitis provide different challenges. Abdominal abscesses may be caused by a variety of pathogens, and obtaining samples for culture and susceptibility testing is difficult. Furthermore, incision and drainage, the most effective form of abscess treatment, is rarely an option. Therefore, long-term empirical antimicrobial therapy is required, and the drugs chosen must have the ability to penetrate abscesses and have some activity in the presence of organic debris.