Restricting severely ill patients access to new broad-spectrum empirical drugs is not the answer. Rather there should be a focus on identifying host response to infection to differentiate between colonization or contamination and true infection, and the sensitivity to antibiotics used in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Management relies on adequate antibiotic administration, the ability to monitor response, and facilitate the cessation of antibiotic treatment.

The major determinant of patient success in a patient with a severe infection is the ‘right’ antibiotic or complementary course of treatment.

As an overarching criterion, the following three appropriate “Ds” should be considered: Dosing, Duration, and De-escalation to empirically assess the right antibiotic optimal antimicrobial selection.

Read More