Conservative initiation of antimicrobial treatment in ICU patients with suspected ICU-acquired infection: more haste less speed.

Link to article at PubMed

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]

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