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EDIC Part I study materials
EDIC Part I study resources

EDIC Part I: Infection

EDIC Part I · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Infection

Infection tests sepsis definitions, antibiotic timing, source control and infection prevention.

Core rules

  • Sepsis-3: suspected infection plus SOFA increase ≥2. Septic shock: vasopressors for MAP ≥65 mmHg and lactate >2 mmol/L despite fluids.
  • Antibiotics within 1 h for septic shock; within 3 h for possible sepsis without shock. Take cultures before antibiotics if this causes no delay.
  • Source control within 6–12 h where feasible.
  • Empiric coverage depends on site, resistance risk and recent antibiotics; de-escalate on cultures.
  • Clostridioides difficile: contact precautions, stop unnecessary antibiotics, oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin.

Worked example

A patient with pneumonia, MAP 60 mmHg after 30 mL/kg crystalloid and lactate 3.5 mmol/L has septic shock. Start norepinephrine to MAP ≥65, give antibiotics within 1 h after blood cultures, and arrange drainage if empyema is present. Lactate clearance is a resuscitation marker, not a diagnostic test.

Traps

  • Using qSOFA to rule out sepsis; it is a prompt, not a rule-out.
  • Delaying antibiotics for cultures in shock.
  • Continuing broad antibiotics without review.
  • Missing fungal infection in prolonged critical illness.