When can antibiotic treatment for suspected sepsis be discontinued?

The decision to discontinue antibiotic treatment for suspected sepsis primarily hinges on the results of blood cultures and the clinical status of the patient. A key criterion for stopping antibiotics is the presence of negative cultures, which indicate that there is no ongoing bacterial infection.

When cultures are negative at 48-72 hours, it suggests that any possible bacterial infection has been ruled out, provided the clinical picture also supports this decision. This timeframe is crucial, as it allows healthcare providers to ensure that any pathogens are indeed absent, reducing the risk of premature discontinuation of necessary antibiotics.

In neonatal care, careful consideration is given to both laboratory findings and the overall wellbeing of the infant. While clinical improvement is important, it should be supplemented with laboratory data to confirm that the treatment can be safely stopped without risking the child's health. Thus, relying solely on clinical symptoms or improvement in condition may lead to inadequate treatment in cases where an infection may still be present, making it essential to adhere to the negative culture results as a benchmark for discontinuing antibiotics.