Optimal Antibiotic Treatment of Moderate to Severe Bacterial Infections

Management by TREAT/PCR. The data available at the time of patient recruitment will be entered into TREAT. TREAT will provide advice for the empirical antibiotic treatment and unless the caring physician can justify a deviation from this recommendation, TREAT's recommendation will be implemented (yes or no antibiotic treatment and type of antibiotic). TREAT will also recommend whether a blood sample for PCR should be obtained. Blood will be collected aseptically and the test will be performed once daily between 1000AM-1700PM (results available daily at 1700 PM). PCR results and a PCR-revised TREAT recommendation will be reported to the patient's physician in charge and treatment will be revised accordingly. On day 2, when results of blood cultures and other cultures become available TREAT will be re-consulted and will issue a new recommendation based on the full microbiological investigation (negative and positive results).