Nonadherence to Guidelines Does Not Lead to More-Appropriate Therapy

Pathogens isolated from sepsis patients with guideline-discordant treatment were equally susceptible to guideline-recommended antibiotics and the prescribed broader-spectrum regimens.

Patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with severe sepsis are at high risk for death. Numerous studies have shown that adequate antimicrobial therapy is associated with better outcomes. Many hospitals have established local antimicrobial guidelines to assure effective treatment and limit the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, thereby reducing the selection of resistant bacteria. But are such guidelines followed in daily practice?

To evaluate adherence to the antimicrobial treatment guidelines of their hospital, researchers in the Netherlands conducted a retrospective cohort study involving adults who presented to the ED with sepsis between November 2006 and May 2007 (262 patients, 276 ED visits).

Overall compliance with the tr…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection