Table 2.

Guideline-based antibiotic recommendation for common infections in intensive care units^3,5

Infections	Guideline-based choice of empiric antibiotics
Community-acquired infections
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)	Ceftriaxone or piperacillin–tazobactam + azithromycin or doxycycline.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)	Cystitis: Nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin.
	Acute pyelonephritis: Piperacillin tazobactam, ertapenem.
	Acute prostatitis: Doxycycline, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin.
Sepsis/bloodstream infections (BSI)	Imipenem–cilastatin or meropenem.
Community-acquired meningitis	Cefotaxime/ceftriaxone + ampicillin
Gastrointestinal infections	Enteric fever: Ceftriaxone.
	Biliary tract infections/bacterial peritonitis/intra-abdominal abscess: Piperacillin–tazobactam or cefoperazone–sulbactam or ertapenem.
Skin and soft tissue infections	Cellulitis/abscesses/carbuncles: Cefazolin.
	Necrotizing fasciitis: Piperacillin–tazobactam or cefoperazone–sulbactam + clindamycin.
Hospital-acquired infections
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)	Piperacillin–tazobactam or cefoperazone–sulbactam.
	Add colistin if carbapenem resistance is high.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)	Piperacillin–tazobactam or cefoperazone–sulbactam.
Central line-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI)	Piperacillin–tazobactam or cefoperazone–sulbactam + vancomycin.
	Add colistin if carbapenem resistance is high.
Surgical site infections (SSI)	Treat based on culture and sensitivity.
Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)	Mild to moderate: Metronidazole.
	Severe: Vancomycin + metronidazole.