Question

A 67-year-old man presents to the ED with fever, rigors, blood pressure 82/48 mm Hg, HR 122/min, RR 28/min, and lactate 5.2 mmol/L. Suspected source is pneumonia. Two large-bore IVs are placed, and blood cultures are being drawn. What is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Administer broad-spectrum IV antibiotics immediately (within 1 hour of recognition)

Answer

Delay antibiotics until culture results return to improve stewardship

Answer

Begin oral antibiotics after a 2 L crystalloid bolus

Answer

Wait for chest CT to localize the source before antibiotics

Answer

Administer hydrocortisone before antibiotics in all suspected cases

Practice question

A 67-year-old man presents to the ED with fever, rigors, blood pressure 82/48 mm Hg, HR 122/min, RR 28/min, and lactate 5.2 mmol/L. Suspected source is pneumonia. Two large-bore IVs are placed, and blood cultures are being drawn. What is the most appropriate next step?