Use of antibiotics in the intensive care unit

Abstract 

The incidence of sepsis is rising both as a reason for initial admission to the intensive care unit and as a complication of the healthcare provided. Recognition of the sepsis syndrome and subsequent identification and control of its source are important steps in the management of critically ill patients with infection. Administering the appropriate dose of the correct antibiotic at the optimal time is the key to using antibiotics effectively in the intensive care unit. Given the rising incidence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens it is incumbent upon clinicians to use antibiotics effectively and appropriately for the benefit of the individual patient and the intensive care unit population as a whole.

Keywords: antibiotic therapy, continuous infusion, critically ill, intensive care, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics