The use and risks of antibiotics in critically ill patients

Introduction: The altered pathophysiology in critically ill patients presents a unique challenge in both the diagnosis of infection and the appropriate prescription of antibiotics. In this context, the importance of effective and timely treatment needs to be weighed against the individual and community harms associated with antibiotic collateral damage and antibiotic resistance.

Areas covered: We evaluate the principles of antibiotic use in critically ill patients, including dose optimisation, use of combination antibiotic therapy, therapeutic drug monitoring, appropriate antibiotic therapy duration, de-escalation, and utilisation of sepsis biomarkers. We also describe the potential risks associated with antibiotic therapy including antibiotic resistance, delayed treatment, treatment failure, and collateral damage.

Expert opinion: Prescribing teams must be aware of the impact of critical illness on their patients and tailor antibiotic therapy appropriately to prevent the significant harms associated with suboptimal antibiotic administration.