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Review
. 2020 Mar;52(1):19-30.
doi: 10.3947/ic.2020.52.1.19.

Antimicrobial Therapy and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Sepsis

Hyeri Seok  1 , Ji Hoon Jeon  1 , Dae Won Park  2
Affiliations
Review

Antimicrobial Therapy and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Sepsis

Hyeri Seok et al. Infect Chemother. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Since sepsis was first defined, sepsis management has remained challenging. To improve mortality rates for sepsis and septic shock, an accurate diagnosis and prompt administration of appropriate antibiotics are essential. The goals of antimicrobial stewardship are to achieve optimal clinical outcomes and to ensure cost-effectiveness and minimal unintended consequences, such as toxic effects and development of resistant pathogens. A combination of inadequate diagnostic criteria for sepsis and time pressure to provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy remains an obstacle for antimicrobial stewardship. Efforts such as selection of appropriate empirical antibiotics and de-escalation or determination of whether or not to stop antibiotics may help to improve a patient's clinical prognosis as well as the successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial stewardship; Sepsis; Septic shock.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest

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