Multi-organ failure: the role of antibiotics in the critically ill

Abstract

Sepsis remains an intractable problem in the critically ill and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Antibiotics have proved valuable and lifesaving in the management of this group of patients. However, antibiotic use is not without undesirable side effects, ranging from adverse drug interactions to increased toxicity and the development of resistance. The contribution of antibiotics to multiorgan failure within the intensive care unit setting is frequently overlooked. We review the role of this important group of agents in the context of multiple organ failure and proffer strategies for minimising adverse events associated with their use.