Early and adequate empirical antibiotic treatment in sepsis saves lives, but how should it be provided?

As is classically mentioned, sepsis constitutes a global health problem, with a high incidence, highly variable presentation, and important mortality and morbidity in its advanced stages (severe sepsis/septic shock). In the last decade, the mortality rate due to sepsis treated in Intensive Care Units has progressively decreased thanks to the application of a series of measures in the first hours of the disorder and to the organizational adaptation of hospitals with a view to ensuring early care of patients with sepsis. At present, initial management of the disorder is based on three principles: (1) early and aggressive resuscitation measures; (2) the early introduction of empirical antibiotic treatment; and (3) drainage of the septic focus. Regarding empirical antibiotic treatment, it has been repeatedly pointed out that a delay in administering the first dose in patients with septic shock and in individuals with severe sepsis is correlated to increased mortality. On the other hand, the administration of inadequate empirical antibiotic treatment is also associated to increased mortality. As demonstrated by the excellent work of