Early administration of antibiotic in sepsis in emergency room

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening due to the body’s dysregulated response to infection. Early recognition and prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy are crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing the risk of mortality. Materials and Methods: A clinical audit of the time of antibiotic administration in patients with sepsis in the Emergency Department of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India was done. A total of 150 patients were included in prospective cross-sectional study, categorized into four groups based on the time of antibiotic administration. Results: The results showed that 39 patients received antibiotics in an hour, 61 within 1–2 h, 40 within 2–3 h, and 10 after 3 h or more. The average length of hospital stay was 10.15 ± 5.128 days for patients who received antibiotics within less than an hour, 10.26 ± 4.896 days for those who received antibiotics within 1–2 h, 11.55 ± 5.742 days for those who received antibiotics within 2–3 h, and 15.00 ± 7.364 days for those who received antibiotics after 3 h or more. The average length of hospital stay was significantly lower in patients who received antibiotics within less than an hour compared to those who received antibiotics within 1–2 h (P value = 0.044). Total patients who died were 38, of which 24% (9) died within an hour, 45% (17) died in 1–2 h, 26% (10) in 2–3 h, and 5% (2) after 3 h. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of administering antibiotics in a timely and appropriate manner to improve patient outcomes. The findings also highlight the need for antimicrobial stewardship programs to optimize antibiotic use in sepsis management.

Keywords

• antibiotic administration; first hour; mortality; sepsis