A Multicenter Randomized Trial of Continuous versus Intermittent β-Lactam Infusion in Severe Sepsis

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Rationale</jats:title> <jats:p>Continuous infusion of β-lactam antibiotics may improve outcomes because of time-dependent antibacterial activity compared with intermittent dosing.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Objectives</jats:title> <jats:p>To evaluate the efficacy of continuous versus intermittent infusion in patients with severe sepsis.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 25 intensive care units (ICUs). Participants commenced on piperacillin–tazobactam, ticarcillin–clavulanate, or meropenem were randomized to receive the prescribed antibiotic via continuous or 30-minute intermittent infusion for the remainder of the treatment course or until ICU discharge. The primary outcome was the number of alive ICU-free days at Day 28. Secondary outcomes were 90-day survival, clinical cure 14 days post antibiotic cessation, alive organ failure–free days at Day 14, and duration of bacteremia.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Measurements and Main Results</jats:title> <jats:p>We enrolled 432 eligible participants with a median age of 64 years and an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 20. There was no difference in ICU-free days: 18 days (interquartile range, 2–24) and 20 days (interquartile range, 3–24) in the continuous and intermittent groups (P = 0.38). There was no difference in 90-day survival: 74.3% (156 of 210) and 72.5% (158 of 218); hazard ratio, 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.63–1.31; P = 0.61). Clinical cure was 52.4% (111 of 212) and 49.5% (109 of 220); odds ratio, 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 0.77–1.63; P = 0.56). There was no difference in organ failure–free days (6 d; P = 0.27) and duration of bacteremia (0 d; P = 0.24).</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>In critically ill patients with severe sepsis, there was no difference in outcomes between β-lactam antibiotic administration by continuous and intermittent infusion.</jats:p> <jats:p>Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number (ACT RN12612000138886).</jats:p> </jats:sec>