title: Appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. Nine principles.
abstract: After determining that a patient with an infection would benefit from an antimicrobial agent, several factors must be weighed to arrive at an appropriate choice: seriousness of the infection, the patient's drug allergies, and drug efficacy, toxicity, and cost. Rapid stains, cultures, and sensitivity studies are often helpful in guiding therapy and are critical to appropriate treatment of serious infections. Consideration should also be given to other forms of management, such as control of the source of infection, prophylaxis, and physiologic management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents