When I can stop started antibiotics without making resistance
The short answer is it depends on many factors including nature of infection, infection source, site of infection, severity of infection and other patient’s factors. The core target is to make sure the infection is completely eradicated with shortest course and the lowest dose.
It’s important to mention that resistance can develops if you give the antibiotic for longer than needed durations.
Extensive research has been conducted to determine the optimal duration of antibiotic courses necessary to eradicate bacteria completely.
When treating an infection, the choice of antibiotics and the duration of treatment should be guided by the best available evidence.
Improvement in symptoms does not necessarily indicate complete eradication of the infection.
Some evidence suggests that shorter antibiotic courses may be equally effective for certain infections. Shorter treatments enhance adherence, minimize side effects, and are often more cost-effective. Moreover, they reduce bacterial exposure to antibiotics, slowing the development of resistance.
Many organizations such as WHO and IDSA issues guidelines on infection treatments, including recommended durations and doses based on the latest clinical evidence.
As long as the patient is clinically improved and his lab values has no indications of infection, this culture, most probably, has no value especially if it was taken from the patient before starting the treatment.
Don’t give antibiotics solely based on culture.
If you want to make sure, just request Procalcitonin, as it is the most specific for bacterial infections.
For example we used empirical AB for case RD improved within 5 days and Bl . culture result paper after that G+ve staph sensitive to tienam but case clinically good and lab results normal with -ve CRP
Her I should use tienam ?! And if started just for Bl culture result how long I use and when stop if no other indication?!