Evaluation of Fever in the ICU Patient

Evaluation of Fever in the ICU Patient is a topic covered in the Pocket ICU Management.

To view the entire topic, please or .

Anesthesia Central is an all-in-one web and mobile solution for treating patients before, during, and after surgery. This collection of drugs, procedures, and test information is derived from Davis’s Drug, MGH Clinical Anesthesia Procedures, Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests, and PRIME Journals. Explore these free sample topics:

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

First Things First (assess & treat for the following)

  • Definition: A body temperature >38.3C (101F) represents a fever and an infectious source should be evaluated. However, 50% of episodes of fever are noninfectious.
  • Does pt have hypotension?
    • Consider sepsis (see Sepsis).
      • Proceed with fluid resuscitation.
      • Early antibiotic therapy
      • Consider need for pressors/inotropes.
      • Consider adrenal insufficiency.
  • Is pt hemodynamically stable?
  • Is the pt neutropenic?
    • Neutropenia + fever = immediate antibiotics following cultures

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or --

First Things First (assess & treat for the following)

  • Definition: A body temperature >38.3C (101F) represents a fever and an infectious source should be evaluated. However, 50% of episodes of fever are noninfectious.
  • Does pt have hypotension?
    • Consider sepsis (see Sepsis).
      • Proceed with fluid resuscitation.
      • Early antibiotic therapy
      • Consider need for pressors/inotropes.
      • Consider adrenal insufficiency.
  • Is pt hemodynamically stable?
  • Is the pt neutropenic?
    • Neutropenia + fever = immediate antibiotics following cultures

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: May 14, 2010