Choosing Optimal Antimicrobial Therapies

Life-threatening infectious disease emergencies require immediate, aggressive parenteral administration of antimicrobial agents to ensure high bactericidal concentrations of drug at the site of infection. Initial treatment is an empiric approach using of broad-spectrum bactericidal agents aimed at eradicating the presumed infecting organism(s), which potentially could be multidrug resistant. Once an infection is under control and the culture and sensitivity results are reported, it is important to switch to the most narrow-spectrum agent possible. This action will decrease the potential for adverse drug effects and the risk of development of antibiotic-induced resistance.