gram-negative sepsis; gram-negative bacteremia

Laboratory

• C-reactive protein in serum to guide treatment*
  • antibiotics may be discontinued when serum CRP decreases to 25% of peak value

* study falls short of proving that CRP-guided therapy is worthwhile for patients with gram-negative bacteremia

* benefit if any is with antibiotic stewardship

Management

• 7 days vs 14 days of antibiotic treatment standard
• for patients responding to IV antibiotics, switch to oral antibiotics after 3-5 days

More general terms

• sepsis
• gram-negative infection