You have to be pretty specific with antibiotics for a burst appy... you would use something different for other causes of infection, and it is hard to make a field diagnosis on what the cause of your abdominal pain is. Even with training it is hard to make a definitive diagnosis - and unfortunately there really isn't a good "broad spectrum" antibiotic that can be used to treat all causes of peritonitis. I don't know enough of the specifics, but IIRC, the antibiotic needed to treat for a perfed appy is contraindicated in the treatment of peritonitis from other causes (such as a perfed bowel). Maybe I'm wrong here, and if I am please correct me, but it really isn't as simple as just carrying a strong antibiotic to treat any infection that might come along. A hot appy is porbably one of the most common causes of right lower quadrant abdominal pain, but by no means is it the only one.
MNS
Felix/Xelif, no one knows how well versed in medicine you are/are not, and so it's presumptive of you to be giving medical advice such as you did IMO. I don't see MD after your name <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
A burst appendix CANNOT be 'cured' with antibiotics; AND, there is no way a layman in the backcountry who has limited first aid knowledge is going to think, "Hmm?, that's your appendix, let me get out some antibiotics and it'll cure ya'' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Generally appendicitis strikes in such a fashion that it does not announce itself until the moment of doom <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> then you need suregry, which I'd rather not have in the field. Hence my chocie of wrestling with a bear vs getting an appendicitis attack in the woods. Apparently you're going to be ok with your little first aid kit <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
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