title: [Duration of antibiotic treatment in intensive care: current data].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the current data on the duration of an antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of recent and older articles on criteria of discontinuation of an antibiotic treatment in intensive care patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In intensive care patients the initiation of an antibiotic therapy is more or less codified, in spite of numerous existing problems. The duration of its maintenance, although based on scientific data depends mainly on a multitude of variables. The first step is to assess the therapeutic efficiency in considering the regression of clinical manifestations, the normalization of the acute phase reactants, the sterility of bacteriological samples and the absence of relapse at therapy discontinuation. An assessment after 48 hours is essential, in order to decide the maintenance or the modification of therapy. Finally the indication of bitherapy is considered. The theoretical duration of antibiotic therapy is determined in taking into account the involved microbial agent(s), the centre of infection, the bacterial inoculum, the patient, the presence of foreign material, and the administered antibiotic.
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation polyvalente, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Georges
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cougot
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Decun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazerolles
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andrieu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samii
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Virenque
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
vernacular_title: Durée du traitement antibiotique en réanimation: données actuelles.