A 35-year-old woman on ICU day 4 develops a temperature of 38.5°C. She has a peripheral arterial line, a central line in the right internal jugular, a...

Question

A 35-year-old woman on ICU day 4 develops a temperature of 38.5°C. She has a peripheral arterial line, a central line in the right internal jugular, and a nasogastric tube. She is not intubated (extubated on day 2). Which investigation is most appropriate as the initial assessment?

Accepted Answer

Focused clinical assessment and septic screen: blood cultures (peripheral and central), urine culture, chest radiograph, and inspection of all invasive device sites

Answer

CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis with contrast

Answer

Lumbar puncture

Answer

CT head to exclude intracranial abscess

Answer

Echocardiography to exclude endocarditis

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): ICU-Acquired Fever

A 35-year-old woman on ICU day 4 develops a temperature of 38.5°C. She has a peripheral arterial line, a central line in the right internal jugular, and a nasogastric tube. She is not intubated (extubated on day 2). Which investigation is most appropriate as the initial assessment?