title: Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy.
abstract: Prescribing antibiotics is an essential component of initial therapy in sepsis. Early antibiotics are an important component of therapy, but speed of administration should not overshadow the patient-specific characteristics that determine the optimal breadth of antimicrobial therapy. Cultures should be drawn before antibiotic therapy if it does not significantly delay administration. Combination antibiotic therapy against gram-negative infections is not routinely required, and combination therapy involving vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam is associated with an increase in acute kidney injury. Emergency practitioners should be aware of special considerations in the administration and dosing of antibiotics in order to deliver optimal care to septic patients.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Medicine, St. Agnes Hospital, 900 South Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Medical Center, 29 South Greene Street, Room 400, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Heil
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: bryanhayes13@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bryan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Acute kidney injury; Antibiotics; Antifungals; Dosing; Obesity; Resistance; Sepsis