Antibiotic management guidelines in trauma and critical care

Many patients with severe illness or conditions like multiple trauma and severe burns are vulnerable to infection due to their depressed immune function. In addition, most patients in the intensive care unit are at increased risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related sepsis. A basic concept of antibiotic use in these guidelines is to diagnose infection and identify the pathogenic microorganism as soon as possible. We should not start inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy in cases of undetermined infection focus or pathogen because it may increase the risk of development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and opportunistic infections. Antibiotic use should be planned deliberately from the time of admission in patients hospitalized long time. Prophylactic antibiotic use should be restricted to a specific diagnosis or an exceptional condition. The antibiotic choice should be determined based on data on antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the ward of a trauma center.