Question

A 45-year-old man presents to a remote primary health centre in the Northern Territory with fever, rigors, hypotension (BP 82/48 mmHg), tachycardia and confusion. A chest infection is suspected. The nearest hospital is 300 km away and retrieval will take several hours. According to remote sepsis management guidelines, what is the most appropriate immediate management?

Accepted Answer

Start broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation while arranging urgent retrieval

Answer

Observe until retrieval arrives without intervention

Answer

Start oral antibiotics and discharge home

Answer

Delay antibiotics until blood cultures are sent to the tertiary hospital

Answer

Use only oral fluids because IV access is difficult

Practice question