In empirical therapy, a patient has proven or suspected infection, but the responsible microorganism is not yet unidentified. While the microorgainsim is being identified the doctor will usually administer the best choice of antibiotic that will be most active against the likely cause of infection usually a broad spectrum antibiotic. Empirical therapy is usually initiated before the doctor knows the exact identification of microorgansim causing the infection as the identification process make take several days in the laboratory. COUNT 8
QSN1 What is one kind of therapy that may be used when a patience has an infection, but it has not been identified? ANS1 empirical therapy QSN2 Where do doctors perform microorganism identification testing? ANS2 laboratory QSN3 What kinds of antibiotics are most commonly used for empirical therapy? ANS3 broad spectrum antibiotic QSN4 At what stage does a doctor begin empirical therapy? ANS4 While the microorgainsim is being identified QSN5 How long does the identification process take? ANS5 several days QSN6 What happens when a doctor doesn't know the microorganism yet? ANS6 broad spectrum antibiotic QSN7 What happens in empirical therapy? ANS7 a patient has proven or suspected infection, but the responsible microorganism is not yet unidentified QSN8 When is empirical started? ANS8 before the doctor knows the exact identification of microorgansim