Continuous infusion of Beta-Lactams in the critically ill: Considerations for global implementation

Abstract

β-lactam antibiotics are the most commonly used antibiotics for the empiric and targeted treatment of infection in the critically ill. Timely administration of an effective dose of β-lactams is critical to reduce infection-associated morbidity and mortality. Continuous infusion (CI) of β-lactam antibiotics is now an evidence-based strategy to optimise treatment in critically ill patients with infection. However, the widespread implementation of CI of β-lactams requires consideration of various practical and pharmaceutical related factors. The following addresses barriers to the implementation of CI of β-lactam antibiotics, including specific considerations for low resource settings, and aims to provide practical solutions for the translation of evidence into practice.