title: Emergency department antimicrobial considerations in severe sepsis.
abstract: Severe sepsis and septic shock are common problems in the emergency department patient population and require expert clinical skill by members of the emergency department team to maximize optimal patient outcomes. Although various guidelines have been developed for the management of these patients, issues around antimicrobial-related considerations in critically ill patients require further evidence-based attention. In this review article, important factors related to patient illness, microorganism, timing of antimicrobial administration, and source control are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Trauma Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, 1276 South Park Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2Y9, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Trauma Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, Room 377 Bethune Building, 1276 South Park Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2Y9, Canada. Electronic address: Dr.robert.green@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Clinical Quality & Research, Critical Care, Pharmacy Services, Interior Health Authority, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, #200-1835 Gordon Drive, Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y3H5, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gorman
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012772:Shock, Septic
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Antimicrobial pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics; Antimicrobial shortages; Emergency medicine; Procalcitonin; Severe sepsis; Timing of antimicrobials