BetaLACTA® Test for Early De-escalation of Empirical Carbapenems in Pulmonary, Urinary and Bloodstream Infections in ICU

Since ≥1 bacteriological sample(s) from ICU patients empirically treated with carbapenems (i.e. respiratory sample such as quantitative tracheobronchial aspirate with available volume ≥1 mL; urinary sample such as single catheter urine specimen; or blood culture) is positive for ≥2 GNB/field on direct examination, empirical carbapenem will be adapted: 1) early, since the second dose, according to the results of the betaLACTA® rapid diagnostic test (BLT) in the intervention arm (i.e. de-escalation to cefepim or to ceftazidim+amikacin in case of negativity, and carbapenem continuation in case of positivity); or 2) after 48-72h according to the results of the antibiotic susceptibility test in the control arm.