A 55-year-old man on ICU has been treated for Gram-negative bacteraemia with meropenem for 10 days. Repeat blood cultures are negative and CRP is fall...

Question

A 55-year-old man on ICU has been treated for Gram-negative bacteraemia with meropenem for 10 days. Repeat blood cultures are negative and CRP is falling. According to current evidence on antibiotic duration in ICU sepsis, what is the recommended approach?

Accepted Answer

Consider stopping antibiotics guided by clinical improvement and biomarker trends (e.g. procalcitonin), typically after 7-10 days for uncomplicated bacteraemia

Answer

Continue antibiotics for a fixed 14-day course regardless of clinical improvement

Answer

Continue until CRP normalises completely

Answer

Switch to oral antibiotics and continue for 21 days total

Answer

Continue IV antibiotics for 28 days to prevent relapse

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Antibiotic Stewardship

A 55-year-old man on ICU has been treated for Gram-negative bacteraemia with meropenem for 10 days. Repeat blood cultures are negative and CRP is falling. According to current evidence on antibiotic duration in ICU sepsis, what is the recommended approach?