title: Frequency of microbiologically correct antibiotic therapy increased by infectious disease consultations and microbiological results.
abstract: In a prospective observational study of bacteremic patients we ascertained the influence of different parts of culture results on the correctness of empirical antibiotic therapy. Ninety-three bacteremic patients requiring antibiotic treatment were included. Patients who had consultations with an infectious disease consultation service before they became bacteremic received microbiologically correct empirical antibiotic therapy more often than those who did not have such consultations (75% versus 53%; P = 0.03). As a direct result of Gram staining, 92% of all patients received microbiologically correct antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. jjkerremans@diaconessenhuis.nl
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kerremans
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Verbrugh
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents