| | Immediate n = 44 | Conservative n = 43 | p value |
|---|
Active ATa | 28 (63.6%) | 26 (60.5%) | 0.76 |
Inactive AT | 2 (4.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.49 |
Unnecessary ATb | 14 (31.8%) | 5 (11.6%)b | 0.02 |
Spared ATc | - | 12 (27.9%) | - |
Suitable ATd | 28 (63.6%) | 38 (88.4%) | 0.01 |
Culture-initiated ATe | 3 (6.8%)e | 19 (44.2%) | 0.001 |
Rescue ATf | - | 10 (23.3%) | - |
- aActive AT: at least one antimicrobial agent active (based on antibiotic susceptibility testing) against each microorganism cultured from a distal respiratory sample in a concentration above the pre-specified threshold (otherwise, inactive AT)
- bUnnecessary AT: AT given then negative culture results (immediate group or rescue AT in the conservative group plus 2 patients in the conservative group managed in 2022 but in whom the protocol for that year was not followed)
- cSpared AT: no AT given and negative culture results (conservative group only)
- dSuitable AT: active AT or spared AT (both groups)
- eCulture-initiated AT: AT given only when the culture results became available (conservative group and 3 patients in the immediate group managed in 2019 but in whom the protocol for that year was not followed)
- fRescue AT: AT given before the culture results became available in the conservative group, due to the development of shock, worsening severe hypoxemia and/or to a positive blood culture after sampling
