title: Pharmacist impact on time to antibiotic administration in patients with sepsis in an ED.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to determine if the physical presence of a clinical pharmacist in the emergency department (ED) would decrease antibiotic order to administration time in adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective review of adult patients presenting to the ED between January and December 2014 with a diagnosis of sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock who required intravenous antibiotics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 186 patients (92 patients when an ED pharmacist was present and 94 when no ED pharmacist was present) were included in the analysis. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. When a pharmacist was present, patients received antibiotics sooner (median 0.61 vs 0.88 hour, P=.001), Surviving Sepsis Campaign goals for antibiotic administration time were more likely to be met (88% vs 72%, P=.0097), and initial antibiotics were appropriate more often (97% vs 81%, P=.0008). No significant differences were noted in intensive care unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, ventilator days, or in-hospital mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical presence of a clinical pharmacist in the ED decreased time to administration and increased appropriateness of intravenous antibiotics for adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock.
authors: Emergency Department, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11234 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92354; Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy, 11234 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92354. Electronic address: kmoussavi@llu.edu.
authors: Kayvan
authors: K
authors: Moussavi
authors: Critical Care, Stanford Healthcare, 300 Pasteur Dr, MC H0301, Stanford, CA 94305. Electronic address: VNikitenko@stanfordhealthcare.org.
authors: Vitaliy
authors: V
authors: Nikitenko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010595:Pharmacists; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents