The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · Jan 1986
Resolution of fever in Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia--retrospective analysis by means of Cusum plot.
The treatment of Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia continues to be an important clinical challenge. Spikes of fever during antibiotic therapy complicate assessment of the response. In an attempt to analyse response to treatment in terms of resolution of fever we have retrospectively studied 17 patients with microbiologically proven S. aureus septicaemia. ⋯ When the Cusum data were used, the time to defervescence of fever from the onset of antibiotic treatment was 21.7 h (range 8-96 h) and to abolition of fever 58.3 h (range 12-180 h). Antibiotic treatment was changed in 61% of patients on the basis of continued fever shown on the conventional temperature chart. In all of these patients, however, the Cusum plot showed clear evidence of response.