Outcomes of Single-Dose Empirical Antibiotic Treatment in Children With Suspected Sepsis Implemented in the Emergency Department
Issued Date
2022-09-01
Resource Type
ISSN
07495161
eISSN
15351815
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85137126304
Pubmed ID
35766872
Journal Title
Pediatric Emergency Care
Volume
38
Issue
9
Start Page
426
End Page
430
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Pediatric Emergency Care Vol.38 No.9 (2022) , 426-430
Suggested Citation
Khanthathasiri S., Kriengsoontornkij W., Monsomboon A., Phongsamart W., Lapphra K., Wittawatmongkol O., Rungmaitree S., Chokephaibulkit K. Outcomes of Single-Dose Empirical Antibiotic Treatment in Children With Suspected Sepsis Implemented in the Emergency Department. Pediatric Emergency Care Vol.38 No.9 (2022) , 426-430. 430. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000002775 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/85574
Title
Outcomes of Single-Dose Empirical Antibiotic Treatment in Children With Suspected Sepsis Implemented in the Emergency Department
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objectives Implementing a single-dose empirical antibiotic (SDEA) strategy at the emergency department (ED) in children with suspected sepsis may improve outcomes. We aim to evaluate the outcomes of the SDEA strategy for children with suspected sepsis at the ED in a tertiary care center in Bangkok. Methods Children who met the predefined checklist screening criteria for suspected sepsis were administered single-dose intravenous cefotaxime 100 mg/kg, or meropenem 40 mg/kg if they were immunocompromised or recently hospitalized. The medical records of children diagnosed with sepsis and septic shock caused by bacterial or organ-associated bacterial infections before and after implementation of the SDEA strategy were reviewed. Results A total of 126 children with sepsis before and 127 after implementation of the SDEA strategy were included in the analysis. The time from hospital arrival to antibiotic initiation was significantly reduced after implementation of the SDEA strategy: median, 241 (110-363) minutes before versus 89 (62-132) minutes after (P < 0.001), with an increased number of patients starting antibiotics within 3 hours of hospital arrival: 42.1% vs 85.0% (P < 0.001). Comparing before and after SDEA implementation, children receiving SDEA had a shorter median duration of antibiotic therapy: 7 (5-13.3) versus 5 (3-7) days (P = 0.001), shorter length of hospital stay: 10 (6-16.3) versus 7 (4-11) days (P = 0.001), and fewer intensive care unit admissions: 30 (23.8%) versus 17 (13.4%; P = 0.036); however, mortality was not different: 3 (2.4%) in both groups. In multivariate analysis, SDEA strategy was the independent factor associated with reduced intensive care unit admission or death. Adherence to SDEA was 91.4%. Single-dose empirical antibiotic was retrospectively considered not necessary for 22 children (11.9%), mostly diagnosed with viral infections afterward. Conclusions Single-dose empirical antibiotic at the ED is an effective strategy to reduce the time from hospital arrival to antibiotic initiation and can help improve outcomes of sepsis in children.