Recommendations for empiric parenteral initial antibiotic therapy of bacterial diseases in adults: Update 2010

Abstract

Under the auspices of the “Paul-Ehrlich Gesellschaft”, an expert panel of German infectious disease specialists and microbiologists compiled updated evidence-based treatment recommendations for parenteral antibiotic therapy in adult patients. Subject-specific expert teams reviewed the available evidence from published data. Evidence levels and grades of recommendations were assigned using a standardized protocol. The following indication areas were covered: respiratory, ENT, oral/maxillary, intra-abdominal, urinary tract, skin/soft tissue, bone/joint and eye infections, sepsis, endocarditis, meningitis, infections in the elderly and perioperative prophylaxis. In addition, the recommendations cover relevant issues regarding the use of parenteral antibiotics: characteristics of drug classes, susceptibility testing, spread of resistance, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug monitoring, interactions, safety and pharmacoeconomics.