title: Effectiveness of early antibiotic administration in septic patients with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  First dose intravenous antimicrobial therapy should be administered within 1 hour of admission but this is achieved in a minority of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis at the largest Oncology hospital in Europe. Nurse-led administration of initial antibiotic therapy was introduced to the admissions unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nurse led protocol increased compliance with the 1 hour target from 40% to 88.6%. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean length of stay (p=0.045) which was more pronounced in the neutropenic population (p=0.006). There was a trend to improved 30 day mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A nurse led protocol can be effective in improving compliance with the 1 hour target. Early administration of intravenous antibiotics in cancer patients with sepsis is associated with a shorter length of inpatient stay and a trend to decreased mortality.
authors.affiliation: University of Manchester.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Acute Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cooksley
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Critical Care, The Christie Hospital, Manchester.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haji-Michael
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents