TREATING SEPSIS

A 17 year old female presents with a 2 hour history of confusion, pyrexia, headache
and a purpuric rash.

This patient has meningococcal septicemia until otherwise proven. The most likely alternative organisms are pneumococci, H. Influenzae and, rarely, Enterobacteriaceae and Listeria.

Third generation cephalosporin + vancomycin (if penicillin resistant S. pneumoniae suspected) + ampicillin (if Listeria suspected)

Cefotaxime + Vancomycin

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