4th August 2023

An 85-year-old woman is brought to A&E by her son. She had complained to him of feeling unwell 2 days ago.

An 85-year-old woman is brought to A&E by her son. She had complained to him of feeling unwell 2 days ago. When he saw her today, she was lying in bed, confused and unkempt. Her only past medical history is hypertension. She appears unwell from the end of the bed.

Observations: HR 117 bpm RR 26/min, SpO₂ 94% on air, BP 86/53 mmHg, T 38.2ᵒC. The examination is difficult as she is combative; she has some general abdominal tenderness and reduced air entry at both lung bases.

What antibiotic regimen would be most appropriate initially?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.