In sepsis management, antibiotic therapy should be started:

• A. Only after culture results
• B. Promptly as early broad-spectrum antibiotics
• C. After 48 hours
• D. Never

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that sepsis is a time-sensitive emergency, and starting antibiotics early is essential to prevent rapid clinical deterioration. Initiating broad-spectrum coverage promptly—ideally within the first hour of recognizing sepsis—targets the most likely bacteria and buys time to control the infection while definitive identification is being obtained. Waiting for culture results before beginning treatment can let the infection progress and increase the risk of organ failure and death, which is why delaying therapy until after cultures is not appropriate. Starting therapy after 48 hours or never treating would similarly worsen outcomes. Once cultures and sensitivities are available, therapy should be refined to a narrower antibiotic to minimize collateral damage and resistance while continuing to treat the infection effectively.