If only there was a simple blood test... https://www.ubyssey.ca/science/sepsis-early-blood-testing/ Their findings showed that taking blood cultures after administering antibiotics could decrease their sensitivity by nearly 50 per cent, affecting medical professionals’ ability to identify an infecting pathogen.
“… there’s many reasons why that loss of information is unacceptable,” said Dr. David Sweet, a study author, clinical associate professor in the faculty of medicine at UBC and clinical lead for sepsis with BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC).
As sepsis can be triggered by a broad range of infections, blood cultures can play an important role during the treatment process by identifying the specific organism responsible for the infection. This allows clinicians to administer a selective antibiotic, such as penicillin, as opposed to aggressive broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can pose health consequences to patients when delivered long-term.