Early Sepsis Treatment — Are We Reaching for the Wrong Antibiotics?

Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics in patients with possible sepsis undoubtedly occurs, but how common is it, and does it cause harm? To find out, investigators performed a detailed chart analysis of 600 patients randomly selected from a retrospective cohort of >26,000 who had been treated for suspected sepsis with broad-spectrum antibiotics (an anti–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] antibiotic, an antipseudomonal β-lactam antibiotic, or both) at seven U.S. emergency departments.

Using structured criteria, researchers identified patients who definitely or probably had bacterial infections (two thirds of patients) and then determined which of these patients needed broad-spectrum antibiotics (based on positive culture, pres…