PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED - BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
TI  - Broad-spectrum antibacterial regimens for the seriously ill
AID  - 10.1136/dtb.24.9.33
DP  - 1986 May 06
TA  - Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
PG  - 33--36
VI  - 24
IP  - 9
4099  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/24/9/33.short
4100  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/24/9/33.full
SO  - Drug Ther Bull1986 May 06; 24
AB  - In a seriously ill patient with suspected bacterial infection, antibiotics are often started before bacteria are isolated and the diagnosis confirmed. The aim is to prescribe an antibiotic regimen that offers a spectrum of activity against the most likely organisms. Selection depends on the prediction of the bacteria involved and on their susceptibility or resistance to specific antibiotics. A broad-spectrum regimen is used when the organisms involved are difficult to predict or where failure of a narrower spectrum regimen would have serious consequences. Many antibacterial drugs are available which alone or in combination offer differing spectra; this article discusses the choice.