Nosocomial Infection and MDR Bacteria

Question 1

Once empiric antibiotics are started, if there is no culture growth within ____, discontinuation should be strongly considered.

Answer 1

Once empiric antibiotics are started, if there is no culture growth within 72 hours, discontinuation should be strongly considered.

Question 2

Patients with SBP should be treated with ___

Answer 2

Patients with SBP should be treated with cefotaxime for 5 days

But, they receive no benefit from therapy longer than 5 days

Question 3

Patient arrives with presumed sepsis of unknown etiology.

What is the order of operations?

Answer 3

1. Obtain pan cultures (blood, urine, CSF) rapidly
2. Initiate empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics
3. De-escalate antibiotics when culture results return. If all negative, consider de-escalation after 72 hours.