Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40318028›Full record

Observational studyActa anaesthesiologica Scandinavica2025

Plasma Trough Concentrations of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics in the Early Phase of Septic Shock.

Malin Hägglund, Magnus Brink, Ulrika Snygg Martin, Daniel Bremell, Carl Johan Svensson

Erratum issuedAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Malin HägglundDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0006-2201-9759
Magnus BrinkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Ulrika Snygg MartinDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Daniel BremellDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Carl Johan SvenssonDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-8265-9313

Funding

Göteborgs Läkarsällskap GS-879901
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSeptic shock necessitates timely antibiotic therapy, often with broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics (ß-LA). To our knowledge, no previous study has examined antibiotic concentrations repeatedly during the initial phase of treatment. This observational study aimed to assess early-phase plasma concentrations of ß-LA in patients with septic shock.

methodProspective observational study of patients with septic shock, according to the SEPSIS-3 criteria, who received cefotaxime, piperacillin/tazobactam, or meropenem in accordance with Swedish practice. Demographic and clinical data were recorded for each patient. Consecutive blood samples were obtained during the first 24 h of treatment, and total antibiotic concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Target concentrations were defined as 100% of the time that free (unbound) antibiotic concentrations remained above the minimal inhibitory concentration (fT > MIC).

resultsTwenty-two patients were included, 15 (68%) were male and the median age was 65.5 years (IQR 46.3-65.5). In-hospital mortality was 7/22 (32%). Antibiotic exposure exceeding 100% fT > MIC was achieved in 16 (73%) of the patients. Four patients did not receive the recommended additional dose between the first and second doses of antibiotics; two of them still achieved 100% fT > MIC, whereas the other two attained 66% and 33% fT > MIC, respectively. Among the patients who received the additional dose, four did not achieve 100% fT > MIC. No relationship between mortality and fT > MIC was observed. Significant associations with achieving 100% fT > MIC were observed for older age (p = 0.045) and illness severity (SAPS3, p = 0.025).

conclusionOur findings demonstrate considerable variability in antibiotic exposure during the initial 24 h of septic shock treatment, highlighting a critical gap in understanding the clinical relevance of sub-optimal serum antibiotic concentrations and their potential impact on patient outcomes. EDITORIAL COMMENT: Therapeutic drug monitoring of antimicrobials is increasingly being used in research and clinical practice.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial Agentsbeta-LactamsShock, SepticAgedbeta Lactam AntibioticsFemaleHospital MortalityHumansMaleMeropenemMicrobial Sensitivity TestsMiddle AgedProspective StudiesAnti-Bacterial Agentsbeta Lactam Antibioticsbeta-LactamsMeropenembeta‐lactam antibioticsearly‐phase pharmacokineticsplasma drug concentrationsseptic shocktherapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)

Identifiers

PMID40318028
PMCPMC12047412

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.