Conservative initiation of antimicrobial treatment in ICU patients with suspected ICU-acquired infection: more haste less speed.
Curr Opin Crit Care. 2013 Aug 28;
Authors: Hranjec T, Sawyer RG
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the recent literature supporting the idea that in some patients suspected of having a new ICU-acquired infection, antibiotics can be withheld until evidence to confirm diagnosis is obtained.
RECENT FINDINGS: Recent publications demonstrate that in community-acquired pneumonia, severe sepsis presenting to the emergency room, and suspected ICU-acquired infection, the time to antibiotic therapy does not necessarily seem to be a key determinant of outcome.
SUMMARY: In the ICU, patients without septic shock but suspected of having an ICU-acquired infection may be able to have antibiotics withheld until infection is confirmed using a combination of laboratory, radiologic, and microbiological data.
PMID: 23995121 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]