Therapeutic challenges of urosepsis

Eur J Clin Invest. 2008 Oct:38 Suppl 2:45-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2008.02008.x.

Abstract

Urosepsis accounts for approximately 25% of all sepsis cases and may develop from a community or nosocomial acquired urinary tract infection (UTI). The underlying UTI is almost exclusively a complicated one with involvement of parenchymatous urogenital organs (e.g. kidneys, prostate). In urosepsis, as in other types of sepsis, the severity of sepsis depends mostly upon the host response. The treatment of urosepsis comprises four major aspects: Early goal directed therapy, early optimal pharmacodynamic exposure to antimicrobials, early control of the complicating factor in the urinary tract and specific sepsis therapy. Following these prerequisites there appear two major challenges that need to be addressed: Firstly, time from admission to therapy is critical; the shorter the time to effective treatment, the higher the success rate. This aspect has to become incorporated into the organisational process. Secondly, adequate initial antibiotic therapy has to be insured. This goal implies however, a wide array of measures to ensure rational antibiotic policy. Both challenges are best targeted if an interdisciplinary approach at any level of the process is established, encompassing urologists, intensive care specialists, radiologists, microbiologists and clinical pharmacologists working tightly together at any time.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostatitis / diagnosis
  • Prostatitis / drug therapy
  • Sepsis / diagnosis
  • Sepsis / drug therapy*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / diagnosis
  • Urinary Tract Infections / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary