Zusammenfassung
Due to the frequency of infectious diseases, antibiotic drugs are important and frequently life-saving medications in the emergency department (ED). On the other hand, rapid treatment decisions have to be made and a significant proportion of inadequate antibiotic prescriptions are observed in clinical practice although decisions in the ED set the course for adequate antibiotic treatment. In order ...
Zusammenfassung
Due to the frequency of infectious diseases, antibiotic drugs are important and frequently life-saving medications in the emergency department (ED). On the other hand, rapid treatment decisions have to be made and a significant proportion of inadequate antibiotic prescriptions are observed in clinical practice although decisions in the ED set the course for adequate antibiotic treatment. In order to choose an appropriate treatment strategy, acute life-threatening infections (diagnostics and immediate empirical therapy) have to be differentiated in the ED from less complicated infections (mainly empirical therapy) and complicated infections of a frequently chronic nature (adequate diagnostics, no or delayed therapy). Additionally, this article gives a review of important general aspects of antibiotic therapy in the ED as well as the specific therapy of the most important infectious diseases.