The authors reply

Abstract

We thank Ishii et al (1) for their comments on our recently published study (2) in Critical Care Medicine, examining a sepsis quality improvement program. We have summarized the authors' concerns as the following: 1) a broad case definition of suspected infection that may bias the cost-savings by including more patients with milder disease; 2) paucity of evidence to provide sepsis care to patients with suspected infection but without meeting sepsis criteria; 3) lack of information detailing the pathogens and antibiotic stewardship.